Yellowknife is quite the distance from Sylvanie Kemche Wache's original home in Cameroon. She said she's spent about half a year in Yellowknife, and before coming here, didn't even know the city existed.
Now that she's here, Kemche Wache said she loves it and wants to help it to grow. One way is through the city's Francophone community and that mission starts with a trip to Edmonton next month.
The soon-to-be Grade 12 student at Ecole Allain St. Cyr has been chosen as one of 35 ambassadors from around the country that will descend upon the Alberta capital from August 4 to 9 for a week of activities and discussions in French, according to a press release from French for the Future. It's called the the National Ambassador Youth Forum (FNJA) and it's happening on the Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta.
French for the Future is an organization that connects youth across Canada through events that promote French and Francophone cultures.
Kemche Wache added she's very curious to know what style of French Edmonton speaks.
"I was not sure they would choose me," said the 16-year-old. "I was like 'please choose me, please choose me,' because this was an opportunity to talk more French. When they chose me, I was very surprised. I read their message like three times to be sure that that was me. And I was very happy."
Kemche Wache's role as an ambassador is simple: promote French and bilingualism in their home community. She added she'll be going alone, but she's not afraid.
"I think it will be a change for me to be more mature," she said. "I will grow up, I will learn how to take care of myself in every situation."
As for growing the French community here in the city, Kemche Wache said she'll talk with teachers and friends alike to help create a new group, and encourage newcomers to learn the language also.
"If you learn French, just for fun, when you go to Paris for example, you can discuss with someone else without being anxious or afraid or shamed because you just speak English," she said.