By MOSAIC Media Team
Education can open doors for rewarding opportunities for those new to Canada. We are proud to present the MOSAIC Educational Enhancement Award to six deserving students this year.
MOSAIC is proud to announce this year’s winners of the MOSAIC Educational Enhancement Award for 2023.
Hussein Al Aaref
Hussein is from Syria, where he started his dental schooling but was forced to put his education on hold and flee the country during the war. After moving to Canada, he volunteered for the Arab Community Centre in Toronto. He was also an interpreter for newcomers for healthcare, legal and social assistance appointments.
He also took a Python Programming Basics course through MOSAIC, where he discovered his love of computers. Today he is taking the Data Science program at UBC. This award will help pay for his tuition and pursue his passion for programming.
Maryam Alyamani
Maryam is from Yemen and didn’t know any women allowed to pursue careers in male-dominated industries. She had to put her passion (for mechanical engineering) aside and study human resources management. She moved to Canada in 2020 and worked various administration jobs (sometimes 12 hours a day) to afford to sponsor her parents to live in Canada.
After overcoming physical and mental health challenges, she’s ready to return to school in Canada. She plans to enroll in the Mechanical Engineering program at BCIT. Maryam wants to be the first female in her family to complete a degree and one in a male-dominated industry.
Aubert Bigirimana
Aubert is from Burundi in East Africa. He arrived in Canada in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and International Trade. Aubert took the ESL program and Early Childhood Education programs.
He’s volunteered with École des Deux-Rives, the Inasmuch Community Society, and Habitat for Humanity. This scholarship will help Aubert pay for tuition, technology, books and transportation to attend the Early Childhood Education program at Northern Lights College.
Wazhma Hakimi
Wazhma is from Afghanistan and arrived in Canada in June 2022. Before coming to Canada, she earned her MD in Dentistry and an MSc degree through a German Academic Exchange Service (also known as Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, ) Scholarship.
In Canada, Wazhma has been an active volunteer. She worked as a healthcare assistant in Surrey, volunteered for refugee support and advocacy programs, and advocated for the Hazara Sponsorship Initiative.
Without Canadian certification in dentistry, Wazhma can’t practice her profession here. This scholarship will help her pay for the Dental Hygiene Program at Vancouver Community College in the Fall.
Dr. Murtaza Noori
Dr. Murtaza is a professional civil engineer with project management experience. An official Project Management (PgMP) certification in Canada will help him further his career.
After coming to Canada last Fall, he volunteered with the Richmond Multicultural Centre. He is also a guest speaker and instructor for computer courses for seniors, low-income families, and refugees. This scholarship will help him pay for PgMP certification prep courses and certification exam fees. With this certification, he’ll be better able to support his family in Canada and his sibling in.
Abdulrahman Al Odat
Abdulrahman has lived most of his life in the shadows of civil war, displacement, and refugee camps. Yet, he still found time to serve his community, focusing on local children, homeless communities, and fellow refugees. He also created a youth support group, joined a non-profit to support the local homeless population, and is a co-creator of WelcomeToVan: a website that helps newcomers with little to no English get settlement support and resources.
With this scholarship, Abdulrahman plans to earn a Bachelor of Computer at the University of British Columbia to support his family and community.
Congratulations to this year’s scholarship winners. We look forward to watching your journey. Read more about the awards.
