Ms. Khadija Ali Ahmed

August 20, 2010

Khadija Ali Ahmed is practicing activism in many forms, one of her passions include women's rights. Throughout attending Glebe Collegiate institute Khadija was presented with multiple opportunities in which she took advantage of during her high school years. She was president of the KEY Club, an sub-organziation of Kiwanis Ottawa. Through numerous fundraising activities the club has helped support other organizations and important causes. She was also, an executive member of the Ottawa Youth Commission, a group of youth coordinated under Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa who are dedicated to advocating Ottawa youth's voice.

Khadija has demonstrated her ability to remain an active citizen within her community by also attending various conferences and events. She plans on continuing her studies while volunteering and being involved with organizations such as the National Association of Women in Law to help better enhance her post secondary education.

Carleton University will be the university of choice for Khadija to complete her undergraduate for Women & Gender Studies and Law. Khadija is committed to enriching her life as much as possible with her education and extracurricular activities.

Ms. Nelly Naze

August 20, 2010

Ms. Nelly Naze

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1991, four years later I moved to Kigali, Rwanda, where my parents were from. Once we had the signal that our home was safe and found the courage that was necessary we moved back. With the staggering deaths in my family we found it very hard to move on. Losing my grand- parents on both sides of the family and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins was too traumatic to stay. One evening my mother got the courage and instinct to apply for a visa, something at that time was incredibly hard to receive. And a couple months later we got the call that changed our lives forever. We had received a visa for myself, my mother and both my older sister and brother. By June 1998 we were on a plane to Ottawa. Leaving my father in Rwanda was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone though.

Fast forwarding 12 years from then a lot of challenges have crossed my path, some including more deaths in the family, moving schools and houses, meeting new people and saying good bye to a lot of people. But all of these challenges have made me the person I am and the person I strive to be. I have been blessed to have such an amazing family and after losing members in your family you truly grow to see how important family is.

With this Scholarship I get one year of freedom to study, to learn, without the popular burden of financial issues. I get to experience the student life in a different way, and for that experience that is about to come I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you once again for believing in me. I’ve built confidence and self- assurance. I know what I want and with this scholarship it can bring me closer to getting it. In September 2010 I will be attending Ottawa University and taking International Development and Globalization because I want to stand up for people who can’t stand up for themselves. I want to make this world a better place. I don’t want to be ignorant and let decisions be made for me. I know where am from, who I am and who I want to be. This scholarship means the world to me. It is a break for my family and I. So once again thank you for making my road to success a lot easier, this gift is something I’ll never forget. God bless you all."