• “I’ve learned from my parents to give people my full attention. Nurture relationships. Talk to people when you meet them on the street. Take the time to listen and connect. When they’re in front of you, make people feel like they’re all that matters in that moment. The accumulation of these moments is what makes us rich.” ▫️ Nilufer is an independent filmmaker and co-founded the production company @snowangelfilms with her sister Saira. Nilufer told me, “sometimes I make money from my work, sometimes I don’t. I follow my heart and hope it leads to good things.” She has co-created several documentary and short films including “Prairie Mosque,” “Arctic Mosque,” and is currently producing a documentary film titled “The Year We Fasted Alone” (which you can participate in before the end of May!) When I asked her what her proudest accomplishment is, she told me, “perhaps it’s still a work in progress. All I can say is that regarding my films, I make what I love and I love what I make. I feel pride and joy watching my own films because of the people in them. They have all inspired me and enriched my life immensely.” This photo is captured behind her family home. She told me, “This place uplifts my soul and keeps me grounded. Every year I see the river rise and flood the bank. Then in the spring the waters recede and the trees and grasses slowly emerge and come alive. The deer and groundhogs, beavers, duck, geese, squirrels and birds of all kinds busy themselves with the work of living. I am humbled by their resilience and quiet diligence. This is my favourite place.” She continued to tell me how much she loves “sharing this space with family and friends and filling it with warmth… I cherish time with family, sitting around the kitchen table, talking over tea and treats or “cha ta” as we say in Bengali.” It became clear from our conversation how important family is to Nilufer, and how important her family is to the community at large. She told me, “My parents have always been well loved because for years they worked selflessly for the community. They’ve always treated people with compassion and now we as their children are reaping the benefits of that. 👇CONTINUED BELOW
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    “I’ve learned from my parents to give people my full attention. Nurture relationships. Talk to people when you meet them on the street. Take the time to listen and connect. When they’re in front of you, make people feel like they’re all that matters in that moment. The accumulation of these moments is what makes us rich.” ▫️ Nilufer is an independent filmmaker and co-founded the production company @snowangelfilms with her sister Saira. Nilufer told me, “sometimes I make money from my work, sometimes I don’t. I follow my heart and hope it leads to good things.” She has co-created several documentary and short films including “Prairie Mosque,” “Arctic Mosque,” and is currently producing a documentary film titled “The Year We Fasted Alone” (which you can participate in before the end of May!) When I asked her what her proudest accomplishment is, she told me, “perhaps it’s still a work in progress. All I can say is that regarding my films, I make what I love and I love what I make. I feel pride and joy watching my own films because of the people in them. They have all inspired me and enriched my life immensely.” This photo is captured behind her family home. She told me, “This place uplifts my soul and keeps me grounded. Every year I see the river rise and flood the bank. Then in the spring the waters recede and the trees and grasses slowly emerge and come alive. The deer and groundhogs, beavers, duck, geese, squirrels and birds of all kinds busy themselves with the work of living. I am humbled by their resilience and quiet diligence. This is my favourite place.” She continued to tell me how much she loves “sharing this space with family and friends and filling it with warmth… I cherish time with family, sitting around the kitchen table, talking over tea and treats or “cha ta” as we say in Bengali.” It became clear from our conversation how important family is to Nilufer, and how important her family is to the community at large. She told me, “My parents have always been well loved because for years they worked selflessly for the community. They’ve always treated people with compassion and now we as their children are reaping the benefits of that. 👇CONTINUED BELOW
  • Mona is a glass ceiling breaker and pioneer in her field of engineering. She is a retired professional engineer, who up until her retirement, was the president and COO of InCoreTec Inc., a company she founded in 1988. When I asked her what her proudest achievements are she told me raising her two successful sons and “[she] was the first woman to complete a Masters degree in ocean engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. During that work, I developed the first mathematical model in North America to predict iceberg movement. In 1980, I became the first woman to ever work as an engineer for Lavalin-Fenco Newfoundland. In 1988, I became the first woman engineer in Newfoundland to launch her own engineering company.” That same year, from her experiences being a woman in the field, Mona also founded WISE NL (Women in Science and Engineering). WISE is a non profit community organization that has worked to increase the participation of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers in the province over the past 30 years. In part because of this, Memorial University now leads the country in female engineering students at 27% enrolment. She notes that it’s summer employment program which began in 1990 “has seen over 1000 young women in Grade 11 throughout NL experience careers in science and engineering through hands-on paid summer jobs at Memorial and in the private sector. Many have gone on to become successful professionals themselves and now mentor the next generation of younger women.” All that is mentioned above hardly scratches the surface of Mona’s lists of accolades, accomplishments, and contributions. When I asked her what she likes to do for fun she told me she loves to garden, cook, do yoga, and peruse the aisles of Costco. Mona’s own favourite quality is her love of helping others. In 2019, this very quality won her a community service award offered by the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland & Labrador (PEGNL). ▫️ Swipe to see an archival photo supplied by Mona of her doing field work at the beginning of her career. #thesistersprojectgoesacrosscanada
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    Mona is a glass ceiling breaker and pioneer in her field of engineering. She is a retired professional engineer, who up until her retirement, was the president and COO of InCoreTec Inc., a company she founded in 1988. When I asked her what her proudest achievements are she told me raising her two successful sons and “[she] was the first woman to complete a Masters degree in ocean engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. During that work, I developed the first mathematical model in North America to predict iceberg movement. In 1980, I became the first woman to ever work as an engineer for Lavalin-Fenco Newfoundland. In 1988, I became the first woman engineer in Newfoundland to launch her own engineering company.” That same year, from her experiences being a woman in the field, Mona also founded WISE NL (Women in Science and Engineering). WISE is a non profit community organization that has worked to increase the participation of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers in the province over the past 30 years. In part because of this, Memorial University now leads the country in female engineering students at 27% enrolment. She notes that it’s summer employment program which began in 1990 “has seen over 1000 young women in Grade 11 throughout NL experience careers in science and engineering through hands-on paid summer jobs at Memorial and in the private sector. Many have gone on to become successful professionals themselves and now mentor the next generation of younger women.” All that is mentioned above hardly scratches the surface of Mona’s lists of accolades, accomplishments, and contributions. When I asked her what she likes to do for fun she told me she loves to garden, cook, do yoga, and peruse the aisles of Costco. Mona’s own favourite quality is her love of helping others. In 2019, this very quality won her a community service award offered by the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland & Labrador (PEGNL). ▫️ Swipe to see an archival photo supplied by Mona of her doing field work at the beginning of her career. #thesistersprojectgoesacrosscanada
  • “The creator tests us through hardships but also opens doors for us to work through those hardships and make the best of the circumstances we are in. My family has survived 3 wars and 22 years of living at a refugee camp. There were many instances where we have come so close to death and yet we are still alive. I don’t take for granted the fact that I am alive and hundreds of others around me didn’t make it. If this doesn’t motivate me to do all that I can to make the world a better place, then I don’t know what would.” ▫️ Kobra is 31, a practicing lawyer interested in immigration/refugee law, criminal law and human rights, and is also a new mother living in Winnipeg. Kobra is Kurdish and was born and raised in a refugee camp in Southern Iraq until the age of 14. She told me her proudest achievement is, “entering and graduating from law school. I arrived in Canada at 14 years old with only a second-grade education. Going through the education system in Canada hasn’t been an easy journey. I succeeded because I stopped comparing myself to others but more importantly, I became comfortable with my identity and my story.” When I asked her what her own favourite quality is she told me, “dedication and perseverance. Again, it’s hard to come to a new country with little education and no knowledge of the language, and even harder when your family has experienced the trauma of living through wars, poverty and instability.” This photo is taken at the University of Winnipeg where Kobra pursued her undergraduate degree. She told me, “I have always loved going to school. While living in the camp, I had dreams of attending school but I was not able to. When we came here, I had dreams of attending university but there were constant barriers due to family matters and particularly when my father and other members of my family were injured in Iraq. I was finally able to attend university in 2009 and it was a dream come true.” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
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    “The creator tests us through hardships but also opens doors for us to work through those hardships and make the best of the circumstances we are in. My family has survived 3 wars and 22 years of living at a refugee camp. There were many instances where we have come so close to death and yet we are still alive. I don’t take for granted the fact that I am alive and hundreds of others around me didn’t make it. If this doesn’t motivate me to do all that I can to make the world a better place, then I don’t know what would.” ▫️ Kobra is 31, a practicing lawyer interested in immigration/refugee law, criminal law and human rights, and is also a new mother living in Winnipeg. Kobra is Kurdish and was born and raised in a refugee camp in Southern Iraq until the age of 14. She told me her proudest achievement is, “entering and graduating from law school. I arrived in Canada at 14 years old with only a second-grade education. Going through the education system in Canada hasn’t been an easy journey. I succeeded because I stopped comparing myself to others but more importantly, I became comfortable with my identity and my story.” When I asked her what her own favourite quality is she told me, “dedication and perseverance. Again, it’s hard to come to a new country with little education and no knowledge of the language, and even harder when your family has experienced the trauma of living through wars, poverty and instability.” This photo is taken at the University of Winnipeg where Kobra pursued her undergraduate degree. She told me, “I have always loved going to school. While living in the camp, I had dreams of attending school but I was not able to. When we came here, I had dreams of attending university but there were constant barriers due to family matters and particularly when my father and other members of my family were injured in Iraq. I was finally able to attend university in 2009 and it was a dream come true.” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
  • Nazia is a general practitioner (medical doctor) based in Maple Ridge, BC. At the time this photo was taken she was a family physician in Prince George, BC. Her proudest accomplishment is securing a residency position at the University of British Columbia as a new citizen of Canada after going through a very competitive selection criteria. Her favourite past time is spending time with her family, camping, travelling, and going to the gym/working out. What’s most important to her is spending time with her family despite her greatest challenge which is her extremely busy schedule. When I asked her what her own favourite quality is she told me, “I am a good listener which helps me in doing my job to the best of my abilities.” Something that people may not know about Nazia is that she is a really amazing singer. When I asked her what’s an inspiring message she would like to share she said, “Wearing a hijab will never stop a person from achieving one’s goals in the West.”
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    Nazia is a general practitioner (medical doctor) based in Maple Ridge, BC. At the time this photo was taken she was a family physician in Prince George, BC. Her proudest accomplishment is securing a residency position at the University of British Columbia as a new citizen of Canada after going through a very competitive selection criteria. Her favourite past time is spending time with her family, camping, travelling, and going to the gym/working out. What’s most important to her is spending time with her family despite her greatest challenge which is her extremely busy schedule. When I asked her what her own favourite quality is she told me, “I am a good listener which helps me in doing my job to the best of my abilities.” Something that people may not know about Nazia is that she is a really amazing singer. When I asked her what’s an inspiring message she would like to share she said, “Wearing a hijab will never stop a person from achieving one’s goals in the West.”
  • “Despite the fact that nurses are one of the main reasons why Canada has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, there was a huge cultural barrier I had to break down within my community regarding the profession. I’m proud of myself for recognizing the difference nursing makes on the world, and coming to a point where my motivation isn’t to prove people wrong or gain the approval of others; my motivation is that I genuinely believe in the cause.” ▫️ Aliya is 23, a Master of Nursing Student, a research and teaching assistant, an autism services program coordinator, works a retail job, and volunteers for an incredible amount of organizations and initiatives. To name a few, Aliya volunteers for: “Project Toothbrush,” an initiative that advocates for oral health in young children; Saskatoon City Hospital, where she is a client companion; Ronald McDonald House, where she helps host numerous events for families; and The Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society, where for two years she was the lead volunteer and coordinator of the annual “Light the Night” event. Outside of this she has hosted conferences, been an official delegate, and spearheaded her own event at a local women’s shelter called Women’s Pamper Night. When I asked Aliya what her proudest accomplishment is she told me, “getting accepted [to my] program and choosing to pursue the profession of nursing. I’ve always had immense passion to serve, care ,and give, and many of my values lined up with that of nursing. However, in many south east Asian communities there is a preconceived notion that demotes the significance of nursing to a substandard level that falls below other areas of the healthcare industry… Today I’m proud to be a nurse as I recognize being a nurse means compassion and patience, empathy and sensitivity. It means being there for a total stranger at all hours of the day and all hours of the night. It’s the ability to be a patient’s confidant and their advocate, all while helping keeping their loved one calm, even in the most stressful of situations. Being a nurse is a responsibility that I am truly honoured to have.” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
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    “Despite the fact that nurses are one of the main reasons why Canada has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, there was a huge cultural barrier I had to break down within my community regarding the profession. I’m proud of myself for recognizing the difference nursing makes on the world, and coming to a point where my motivation isn’t to prove people wrong or gain the approval of others; my motivation is that I genuinely believe in the cause.” ▫️ Aliya is 23, a Master of Nursing Student, a research and teaching assistant, an autism services program coordinator, works a retail job, and volunteers for an incredible amount of organizations and initiatives. To name a few, Aliya volunteers for: “Project Toothbrush,” an initiative that advocates for oral health in young children; Saskatoon City Hospital, where she is a client companion; Ronald McDonald House, where she helps host numerous events for families; and The Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society, where for two years she was the lead volunteer and coordinator of the annual “Light the Night” event. Outside of this she has hosted conferences, been an official delegate, and spearheaded her own event at a local women’s shelter called Women’s Pamper Night. When I asked Aliya what her proudest accomplishment is she told me, “getting accepted [to my] program and choosing to pursue the profession of nursing. I’ve always had immense passion to serve, care ,and give, and many of my values lined up with that of nursing. However, in many south east Asian communities there is a preconceived notion that demotes the significance of nursing to a substandard level that falls below other areas of the healthcare industry… Today I’m proud to be a nurse as I recognize being a nurse means compassion and patience, empathy and sensitivity. It means being there for a total stranger at all hours of the day and all hours of the night. It’s the ability to be a patient’s confidant and their advocate, all while helping keeping their loved one calm, even in the most stressful of situations. Being a nurse is a responsibility that I am truly honoured to have.” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
  • “I can remember feeling the pressure to perform being the perfect ‘Muslimah’ for my parents, my peers, etc. until I realized that I could not satisfy everyone all the time and the impact it was having on my health. Now, I'm interested in looking beyond and answering questions like 'how do we address the racism, sexism or other forms of oppression within the Muslim community? How do we make space for Muslims on the margins to be heard? How can I take care of myself and support others to take care of themselves? What community collaborations can I be a part of? ▫️ Raafia is 27, a medical student, and volunteers at the Amal Community Centre, a grassroots non-profit whose community events and programming helps newcomers settle in the GTA. She told me, “when the 2016/2017 refugee crisis hit and when Trump implemented his ban, the organization was in its inception stages but there was a flood of folks pouring in. We would go to some homes with multiple families living together and not having basic necessities like rice or curtains. I remember Amal, [the organization founder], would pool all her resources to find them housing and I would scramble to my own community networks to get them basic necessities… I felt the panic, the fear, and the uncertainty about what would happen next. Since then, the organization has grown to provide a furniture bank, settlement services, and [does] multiple events throughout the year.” Raafia’s career and interests came from a time in high school where left Canada to spend two years in Pakistan, where her family originally hails from. She told me, “living in Pakistan taught me the reality of health and economic disparities.” Interacting with the folks in her neighbourhood made her “believe strongly in the power of social services and motivated me to want to be part of primary health care and address health disparities.” When Raafia is not studying and working, she loves to dance. She told me she’ll usually start and end the day dancing, and for a while taught dance to newcomer girls and women as a great way to establish a connection without a common language. CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
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    “I can remember feeling the pressure to perform being the perfect ‘Muslimah’ for my parents, my peers, etc. until I realized that I could not satisfy everyone all the time and the impact it was having on my health. Now, I'm interested in looking beyond and answering questions like 'how do we address the racism, sexism or other forms of oppression within the Muslim community? How do we make space for Muslims on the margins to be heard? How can I take care of myself and support others to take care of themselves? What community collaborations can I be a part of? ▫️ Raafia is 27, a medical student, and volunteers at the Amal Community Centre, a grassroots non-profit whose community events and programming helps newcomers settle in the GTA. She told me, “when the 2016/2017 refugee crisis hit and when Trump implemented his ban, the organization was in its inception stages but there was a flood of folks pouring in. We would go to some homes with multiple families living together and not having basic necessities like rice or curtains. I remember Amal, [the organization founder], would pool all her resources to find them housing and I would scramble to my own community networks to get them basic necessities… I felt the panic, the fear, and the uncertainty about what would happen next. Since then, the organization has grown to provide a furniture bank, settlement services, and [does] multiple events throughout the year.” Raafia’s career and interests came from a time in high school where left Canada to spend two years in Pakistan, where her family originally hails from. She told me, “living in Pakistan taught me the reality of health and economic disparities.” Interacting with the folks in her neighbourhood made her “believe strongly in the power of social services and motivated me to want to be part of primary health care and address health disparities.” When Raafia is not studying and working, she loves to dance. She told me she’ll usually start and end the day dancing, and for a while taught dance to newcomer girls and women as a great way to establish a connection without a common language. CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
  • “I care most about helping to create a world in which every single person is provided and cared for, where no one feels like they aren’t worthy or enough. I care about fighting for a world where there is real equity, where we have moved passed the kinds of inequality and oppression that create despair and hopelessness.” ▫️ Salima is 35, a PhD Candidate & Instructor in the University of Alberta's Religious Studies Program, a mother of two young boys, and is a psychotherapist and a Canadian Certified Counsellor, having started her own practice, Rahma Counselling & Consulting, where she specializes spiritual care, cross-cultural & interfaith counselling, and feminist work, including postpartum care. In addition to her studies and practice, she is a highly involved in her community. She is actively involved at the University of Alberta, her own Ismaili community, the Muslim ummah, and the broader Edmonton community. Within the Ismaili Muslim community, she is an Alwaeza, which is a scholar, preacher, and spiritual care giver. Salima is also a regular guest speaker on Islam and Ismailism at both community and academic institutions. She has been a board member for various interfaith, Muslim, and feminist organizations and speaks on and participates in a variety of projects and discussions related to Islam, religion, feminism, social justice, and mental health. Her own favourite quality is she cares so deeply. She told me, “my wellspring of empathy never seems to dry up, no matter how tired or burned out I am. It informs every aspect of my life and my work and allows me to always see people more clearly, which is such a gift.” When I asked Salima what her proudest accomplishment is she told me, “a toss-up between becoming an Alwaeza and starting my own practice. Both have been a way for me to actualize my faith and to turn dreams I’ve had since I was a child into reality. I love that I have become exactly the kind of person I would have looked up to as a child – I feel like little me would fangirl just a bit over who I am now, and that makes me so happy.” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
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    “I care most about helping to create a world in which every single person is provided and cared for, where no one feels like they aren’t worthy or enough. I care about fighting for a world where there is real equity, where we have moved passed the kinds of inequality and oppression that create despair and hopelessness.” ▫️ Salima is 35, a PhD Candidate & Instructor in the University of Alberta's Religious Studies Program, a mother of two young boys, and is a psychotherapist and a Canadian Certified Counsellor, having started her own practice, Rahma Counselling & Consulting, where she specializes spiritual care, cross-cultural & interfaith counselling, and feminist work, including postpartum care. In addition to her studies and practice, she is a highly involved in her community. She is actively involved at the University of Alberta, her own Ismaili community, the Muslim ummah, and the broader Edmonton community. Within the Ismaili Muslim community, she is an Alwaeza, which is a scholar, preacher, and spiritual care giver. Salima is also a regular guest speaker on Islam and Ismailism at both community and academic institutions. She has been a board member for various interfaith, Muslim, and feminist organizations and speaks on and participates in a variety of projects and discussions related to Islam, religion, feminism, social justice, and mental health. Her own favourite quality is she cares so deeply. She told me, “my wellspring of empathy never seems to dry up, no matter how tired or burned out I am. It informs every aspect of my life and my work and allows me to always see people more clearly, which is such a gift.” When I asked Salima what her proudest accomplishment is she told me, “a toss-up between becoming an Alwaeza and starting my own practice. Both have been a way for me to actualize my faith and to turn dreams I’ve had since I was a child into reality. I love that I have become exactly the kind of person I would have looked up to as a child – I feel like little me would fangirl just a bit over who I am now, and that makes me so happy.” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
  • “If I set my heart to something, I really, really, work for it and I am not afraid to take risks…I decided to come to Canada when I was 17 years old, without any student loan or any financial support ever since. $3000 is all I had when I came, and I built my life in Canada from that. I am a self-made person and I think I made it to this day because of my persistency and ‘never give up’ mentality. And I am really proud of that.” ▫️ Mehnaz is 23, a federal public service employee, currently working with the Canada Revenue Agency, and a member of the Premier’s youth council where she provides advice to the Premier and Provincial Government, bringing a youth perspective to select topics important to youth and government’s agenda. She told me her proudest accomplishment is being nominated for the ‘Women of Distinction Award’ by YWCA St. John’s. The award recognizes women who are making significant contributions to their community and demonstrate leadership, maturity, innovation and inspires others to follow their example. Mehnaz told me, “this nomination is an embodiment of everything thing I have done so far and my dedication towards making an impact in our community, and inspire young girls leading by example.” When she is not working, she loves to paint and write in her diary/read her past diary entries. What’s most important to Mehnaz is her family. She told me, “When I tell my story to anyone about my struggles and how hard I worked to be where I am… the first assumption that people make is either I came from a poor family or have a tragedy that distinguished my entire life. None of that is true. I grew up in a very privileged family… but while providing us with everything we need, they also provided us with values and knowledge, and not to take for granted everything we had. Both my parents are self-made too. Their story inspired me and my siblings so much, that we decided to set [forward on] our journey, and work hard to achieve our dreams. My family educated me with so much empathy, knowledge and passion towards community development, that I continue to follow in their footsteps even on the other side of the world.” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
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    “If I set my heart to something, I really, really, work for it and I am not afraid to take risks…I decided to come to Canada when I was 17 years old, without any student loan or any financial support ever since. $3000 is all I had when I came, and I built my life in Canada from that. I am a self-made person and I think I made it to this day because of my persistency and ‘never give up’ mentality. And I am really proud of that.” ▫️ Mehnaz is 23, a federal public service employee, currently working with the Canada Revenue Agency, and a member of the Premier’s youth council where she provides advice to the Premier and Provincial Government, bringing a youth perspective to select topics important to youth and government’s agenda. She told me her proudest accomplishment is being nominated for the ‘Women of Distinction Award’ by YWCA St. John’s. The award recognizes women who are making significant contributions to their community and demonstrate leadership, maturity, innovation and inspires others to follow their example. Mehnaz told me, “this nomination is an embodiment of everything thing I have done so far and my dedication towards making an impact in our community, and inspire young girls leading by example.” When she is not working, she loves to paint and write in her diary/read her past diary entries. What’s most important to Mehnaz is her family. She told me, “When I tell my story to anyone about my struggles and how hard I worked to be where I am… the first assumption that people make is either I came from a poor family or have a tragedy that distinguished my entire life. None of that is true. I grew up in a very privileged family… but while providing us with everything we need, they also provided us with values and knowledge, and not to take for granted everything we had. Both my parents are self-made too. Their story inspired me and my siblings so much, that we decided to set [forward on] our journey, and work hard to achieve our dreams. My family educated me with so much empathy, knowledge and passion towards community development, that I continue to follow in their footsteps even on the other side of the world.” CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇
  • “My biggest hope is to try and make a pathway for the youth and Muslim women to walk on without all the struggles I faced as a woman, as a Muslim, and as young adult not taken seriously enough too often. If I can't change a lot of those struggles, I have the hope of being a means of support where maintaining modesty in a society that encourages you to wear less, pushes you to break your personal creed and shames you for your personal values won't be something to stop you from anything your heart desires.” ▫️ Nisa is 22, is Saskatoon’s Regional coordinator with Islamic Relief Canada and sits as a member of the media communications and outreach committee at the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan. When she is not doing both those roles, she volunteers her time speaking about the experiences and perspectives of Muslim women at events in her community. (For example International Women’s Day, Church events, etc.) Nisa is very passionate about photographing people and places, event, wedding, party, and trip planning, and generally anything creative and DIY. When I asked Nisa what her proudest achievement is she told me “being able to continue to do what I love in many aspects of my life without letting all the backlash or negativity I face stop me from doing what I believe in. I come from a background where a lot of people around me aren't supportive of women being always at the forefront of leading a team, running events, starting new initiatives or advocating for the problem's women face till this day in our society. I will often be told its immodest of me to be in the public eye or a lot of the issues aren’t “too big” of a deal. Being able to stand up for myself and other young girls has only proven to me as teaching us all to be confident in ourselves and the power we have within us. Limits only exist in people’s minds.” Nisa’s favourite quality is that she is a very positive person. She told me, “I love people and try to do everything I do with my all...” CONTINUED IN CAPTION 👇
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    “My biggest hope is to try and make a pathway for the youth and Muslim women to walk on without all the struggles I faced as a woman, as a Muslim, and as young adult not taken seriously enough too often. If I can't change a lot of those struggles, I have the hope of being a means of support where maintaining modesty in a society that encourages you to wear less, pushes you to break your personal creed and shames you for your personal values won't be something to stop you from anything your heart desires.” ▫️ Nisa is 22, is Saskatoon’s Regional coordinator with Islamic Relief Canada and sits as a member of the media communications and outreach committee at the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan. When she is not doing both those roles, she volunteers her time speaking about the experiences and perspectives of Muslim women at events in her community. (For example International Women’s Day, Church events, etc.) Nisa is very passionate about photographing people and places, event, wedding, party, and trip planning, and generally anything creative and DIY. When I asked Nisa what her proudest achievement is she told me “being able to continue to do what I love in many aspects of my life without letting all the backlash or negativity I face stop me from doing what I believe in. I come from a background where a lot of people around me aren't supportive of women being always at the forefront of leading a team, running events, starting new initiatives or advocating for the problem's women face till this day in our society. I will often be told its immodest of me to be in the public eye or a lot of the issues aren’t “too big” of a deal. Being able to stand up for myself and other young girls has only proven to me as teaching us all to be confident in ourselves and the power we have within us. Limits only exist in people’s minds.” Nisa’s favourite quality is that she is a very positive person. She told me, “I love people and try to do everything I do with my all...” CONTINUED IN CAPTION 👇