Trent University congratulates alumna Dalal Al-Waheidi, executive director of global We Day for non-profit organization Free The Children, upon being named as one of the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants by Canadian Immigrant magazine on Tuesday, June 24, 2014. The awards celebrate the inspiring stories and achievements of notable immigrants to Canada.
Ms. Al-Waheidi grew up in the Gaza Strip in Palestine, and came to Trent in 1998 to study International Development Studies and Political Studies. During her third year, she took advantage of the Trent-in-Ecuador program to study abroad for a year. This “alternative educational experience” was significant for Dalal because “it provided a link between theory and practice”. Now through her career with Free The Children, which she learned about from the International Development Studies department at Trent, she works to support efforts to free children from poverty and exploitation through domestic empowerment programs and leadership training.
The award winners were honoured at a ceremony in Toronto on June 24 and on June 26 in Vancouver. Each of the RBC Top 25 award winners receive a commemorative plaque and a $500 donation will be made towards a registered Canadian charity of their choice. Winners will also be featured on canadianimmigrant.ca/rbctop25 and in the July print edition of Canadian Immigrant magazine.
Trent is proud to welcome Ms. Al-Waheidi back to campus this August to help kick off our 50th anniversary celebrations as one of the many distinguished alumni speakers participating in the Ideas that Change the World Symposium. She will be a panelist for the discussion of Canada’s Role in the World on Friday, August 8, as part of the Critical Cultural Inquiry theme. Ms. Al-Waheidi will also be one of four Honorary Chairs hosting the Trent International Program’s formal dinner on Saturday, August 9.
Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2014.