As a part of the Pathy Foundation Fellowship, Laila will create a social impact project to fight human trafficking of Muslim women in Canada. The project has two main goals: to develop research and resources for survivors of human trafficking and to create a culturally-sensitive rehabilitation program for Muslim women survivors of human trafficking, in collaboration with Canadian social services organization Sakeenah Homes. The ultimate goal is to help the survivors of trafficking better integrate into society.
The Pathy fellowship is a prestigious award that provides funding and support to exceptional young leaders committed to creating positive change in their communities and the world at large.
Laila’s project stems from her strong advocacy for women’s reproductive health and respect for their bodily autonomy. She aims to create a program that helps reintegrate Muslim women survivors into their communities, regain survivors’ bodily autonomy and achieve their personal goals. With Sakeenah Homes, Laila hopes to create a rehabilitation program that caters to the Muslim community’s specific needs.
“I have always tried to find ways to advocate for women within my community. Seeing strong women in my family help each other inspired me to help women within my local community here in Canada.”
Laila Alfadhli
The fellowship project idea started through conversations with members of Sakeenah Homes, where Laila was made aware of the trafficking of Muslim women in Canada.
A strong foundation of solidarity begins to form when people engage with their community. For Laila, this means working with community members to identify social injustices and the resources members lack for their long-term success.
Currently, Laila’s project is in the design and brainstorming phase. In June, she’ll be attending the Foundations for Community Change workshop hosted by the Coady Institute at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, to develop her leadership, financial management and project management skills, which will help in her project, as well as her in her future career.
The Pathy fellowship program also offers an opportunity to collaborate with other fellows throughout Canada, providing a support system of individuals who understand the challenges of managing a new project. This will allow Laila to bounce ideas off of others as needed.
Laila’s project is an excellent example of how individuals can engage with their community to address social injustice and make a positive impact. Through such initiatives, communities can come together to create a more equitable and just society.