Initiatives

Antonette, raised in Toronto, studies International Relations, Data Science, and Contemporary Asian Studies at the University of Toronto. A Lead Analyst for the G7 Research Group, she has conducted fieldwork with Myanmar refugees in Thailand and works with NGOs to promote equity. She aims to use data-driven solutions to tackle global education challenges.

Aryana Anisha Mahmud grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and is currently a student at the University of Southern California majoring in Accounting and Finance. Her professional interests include sustainable finance and social welfare development, which she is eager to pursue further as a Global Impact Fellow. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, listening to music, and baking.

Azra Khatun is a Climate and Disaster Management student at Jashore University of Science and Technology, focused on building climate resilience and promoting inclusion. As a Community Research Coordinator at Brac University's Center for Peace and Justice, she aims to use her Global Impact Fellowship with BacharLorai to advance climate justice and contribute to vulnerable communities.

Dana Ahmed, an Iraqi-Canadian BSc. Biology graduate from McGill, is dedicated to public health equity and accessible healthcare for marginalized groups, focusing on women and immigrants. She aims to use her science background to advance policies that meet UN Sustainable Development Goals. As a Global Impact Fellow, she seeks experience in public policy and project management with the GIF team.

Meheroz Alam is a 4th-year Health and Disease major at the University of Toronto, with minors in Bioethics and English. Passionate about healthcare, she advocates for equitable policies and improved access for underserved communities, focusing on women and minorities in the Global South, aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing).

Mir Asfar, born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is a sociology student at Toronto Metropolitan University and a semi-pro soccer athlete. He is passionate about climate action and social justice, focusing on marginalized communities. Through the Global Impact Fellowship, he aims to enhance his work in the non-profit sector and promote sustainable practices.

Nora Afifi is a fifth-year International Development and Globalization student at the University of Ottawa. With over two years of experience in policy development and project management, her academic focus is on climate change, human security, and resource management. She looks forward to collaborating with fellow Global Impact Fellows at BacharLorai.

Saniyah Farzeen is a Bangladeshi-Canadian Honours Integrated Science student at McMaster University, focused on improving healthcare and education accessibility in third-world countries. She has volunteered at SickKids, Michael Garron Hospital, and with neurodiverse students through Best Buddies, advocating for underserved communities globally.

Sagorika Naomi Azad Haque (they/she) is a neurodivergent poet, facilitator, and organizer from Dhaka, Bangladesh. A UBC graduate in Gender, Race, Social Justice, and Political Science, they co-founded Asha (আসা), a transnational arts and research collective. Their work focuses on political education, gender violence prevention, decolonial knowledge, and Bangladeshi feminisms.

William Gasper Missanga is a Tanzanian environmental activist and recent law graduate from St. Augustine University. He is Project Manager at Urafiki Girls Organization and Events Analytics Manager at Eco-Friendly Recycling. He also served as AIESEC president at St. Augustine. Through the Global Impact Fellowship, he aims to enhance his skills and empower his community.

Meet Polen, a passionate advocate for equality dedicated to creating positive change in women's lives worldwide. As the Manager of International Programs at Oxfam Canada, she leads initiatives on gender-based violence, climate resilience, financial inclusion, and sexual and reproductive health across countries like Bangladesh, South Sudan, Indonesia, and Jamaica. With expertise in building resilience and measuring impact, Polen ensures inclusive program implementation aligned with the SDGs. She aims to become a leading expert in Women's Economic Empowerment (WEE) in fragile contexts. Outside of work, she enjoys life in Ottawa with her beloved golden doodle, CECE.

Aimée Horcasitas is a dedicated RN from Chihuahua, Mexico, with a BSN from Universidad Autónoma de México. As the Americas Regional Hub Co-Chair of the Nursing Now Challenge and a Youth Representative for Sigma Theta Tau International to the UN's ECOSOC, she advocates for nursing leadership and global health equity. Aimée is a speaker on nursing leadership, humanized care, and the role of nurses in achieving the 2030 SDGs, climate action, and gender equality. A founding member of Women in Global Health (WGH) Mexico, she recently moved to the U.S. to further impact healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys learning languages and spending time with her cat, family, and friends.

Yumi Parajuli is the Co-Founder of Entreprenaari, an initiative to empower women entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, networking, and market access. Her volunteer work with the UN in Kenya, Cameroon, and Nepal has honed her ability to create inclusive, impactful programs, deepening her commitment to supporting women in business. Yumi envisions expanding Entreprenaari into a global network that champions innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable development, positioning women entrepreneurs as leaders of economic and social change.

Shagufe Hossain is an award-winning leader with over 12 years of experience in the non-profit sector, working with organizations like BRAC, the Asia Foundation, and WaterAid. As the founder of Leaping Boundaries Foundation, she has impacted over 10,000 youth, focusing on marginalized communities. With double master’s degrees in Development Studies and Education from McGill University, Shagufe blends academic expertise with practical impact. A TEDx and HagueTalk speaker, and Dalai Lama Fellow, she is committed to gender, education, and youth empowerment. Now, as Manager of Youth Engagement at Plan International Canada, she continues her mission for a more just world while advising the Community-based Employment Research Project for the South Asian and Tamil Women’s Collective.

Ayesha Sania is an Associate Research Scientist in Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, holding a Doctor of Science in Epidemiology from Harvard and an MBBS from Dhaka Medical College. Her research focuses on early life risk factors for poor health and development among children in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Bangladesh, South Africa, and Malawi. Growing up in a small village in southern Bangladesh and volunteering in urban slums shaped her commitment to improving health outcomes in underserved communities.

Albaab is a strategic leader with over a decade of experience in fundraising, partnership development, and grant management. As Development Manager for Indigenous Programs at Right To Play, he has secured significant funding and built key government relationships. With expertise in managing multi-million dollar portfolios, Albaab excels in creating strategies for education, climate change, and food security, using data analytics to enhance program impact. He holds an MSc in Management from Queen Mary University of London and a BBA from North South University, and is fluent in Bengali and English, with basic French proficiency.

Carina Schmid, MPH, is a consultant specializing in mental well-being, trauma-informed communication, and inclusion, providing training for Public Health and Healthcare professionals. She collaborates with organizations like the Region 2 Public Health Training Center, Springer Healthcare, and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. Carina also lectures at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Hamburger Fachhochschule, focusing on health communication. With a background in neurological nursing and global program leadership, she is dedicated to fostering a healing culture in healthcare. She divides her time between the German Swabian Alps and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, where she lives with her family.

Tahmid Hasib Khan is a public health researcher and communications professional specializing in infectious disease surveillance and addiction treatment access. He holds an MPH in Epidemiology from Columbia University and a B.Sc. in Global Health from the University of Toronto. As Business Group Director at RXMD, he manages key accounts in substance use disorder and mental health. Tahmid is also the Co-founder and Director of Communications at BacharLorai, promoting Bangladeshi empowerment through community building and research. Additionally, he serves on the Global Leadership Team at Footsteps Bangladesh, focusing on healthcare access in climate-impacted communities.

Victoria Verdeja is a marketing communications executive with expertise in blending storytelling and data-driven strategies across highly regulated industries. She is currently the Business Group Director at RXMD, a Manhattan-based pharmaceutical and biotech communications firm. Previously, she served as VP, Corporate Communications Officer at Amerant Bank, leading efforts across multiple markets. Her past roles include strategic communications at Amerant, media relations at Baptist Health, and digital media at Republica Havas. Named the Bob Ross Communicator to Watch by PRSA Miami in 2023, Victoria holds a bachelor’s in public relations from the University of Florida and an MSc in Marketing from Florida International University.

Shah Rafayat Chowdhury is an award-winning environmentalist and social entrepreneur from Bangladesh. He is the Co-Founder & President of Footsteps, which empowers over 600,000 people in Bangladesh with safe water, sanitation, disaster resilience, and public health services. As Managing Director of Dreamwater Enterprises Limited, he develops affordable WASH solutions. Shah has received the Diana Award, AFS Prize for Young Global Citizens, and was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for his contributions to Bangladesh’s development sector. He has served as Bangladesh's Youth Representative to the UN and was mentored by Al Gore on climate leadership. Shah holds a degree in Environmental Economics and Policy from Penn State.

Corinna Nawatzky is a program manager at Salzburg Global's Center for Education Transformation, overseeing program design, activities, network engagement, and center operations. She co-leads the DEI Task Force’s People Pillar. Previously, Corinna served as assistant project coordinator for a child protection initiative at UNRWA in Jordan and interned with GIZ in Sudan, supporting portfolio management. She holds a bachelor's degree in intercultural management and communication from Karlshochschule International University, Germany, and studied abroad at Misr International University in Cairo, Egypt.