Aqelah Rezai
I am a young community leader passionate about creating inclusive spaces where youth, especially newcomers, feel supported, empowered, and heard. As a newcomer myself, I have experienced the challenges of adapting to a new community and benefited from resources and people who helped me along the way. Those experiences inspired me to give back and become a resource for others. I have volunteered with organizations including the YMCA, CCS, and Hijabi Ballers, and have supported initiatives such as Girls Leadership as a facilitator for newcomer youth. Through my work and leadership, I strive to lead with empathy, creativity, collaboration, and resilience while building meaningful connections and opportunities for young people to thrive.
Learn Share and Empower
Learn Share & Empower (LSE) is a youth-centered resource zine that shares real stories and experiences from immigrant youth who have navigated life in Canada. The project creates a safe and inclusive space for youth to express their journeys while helping newcomer youth feel less alone, learn from relatable experiences, discover resources, and build confidence. By connecting youth through storytelling, LSE aims to foster belonging, resilience, cultural understanding and empowerment within newcomer communities.
About this Project
Communities Served
My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.
How the project works
By September 30, the LSE team and social media plan will be finalized. Youth participants will be contacted by October 15, with materials purchased by then. Storytelling and art activities will run from October 25 to December 20, followed by a project exhibition in January.
Project Impact
Learn Share & Empower will empower immigrant and newcomer youth by creating a space where their stories, creativity, and experiences are valued. The project will build confidence, communication, leadership, and connections while helping newcomer youth feel less alone and more informed. The resulting resource magazine and exhibition will continue sharing relatable stories and resources with the wider community.
Project Mission
Learn Share & Empower’s mission is to connect, support, and empower newcomer youth through storytelling, creativity, and shared experiences. The project aims to create a safe, inclusive platform where youth can express themselves, learn from others, build confidence and belonging, and access relatable resources while strengthening connections within the newcomer community.
Project Team
Aqelah, Project Coordinator & Facilitator; Farhan, Editor; Anila, Social Media; plus an Artist, Website Developer, and Facilitator.
- Aqelah Farhana Anila Artist Faciliator Website Developer
Donate to Sprout to support fellows
Support young social innovators by donating to the Sprout Ideas Fund, providing capacity-building and resources needed to launch projects that create positive social change.
Donate Now