Two Inspiring Journeys Just Begun: Welcoming Farah and Alaa to Canada

It’s that exciting time of year when the Daughters for Life Foundation proudly welcomes the recipients of our Scholarship Program for the 2024/25 academic cycle. We are thrilled to introduce the first batch of inspiring scholarship winners who have just arrived in Canada to embark on their educational journeys. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements about additional scholars coming soon!

Thanks to the continued support from our partner universities, including the University of the Fraser Valley and York University, we are thrilled to welcome Alaa Abdallah and Farah Baliki to the DFL family.

Since the beginning of this year, we have been engaged with these two young women as scholarship applicants. In recent months, we’ve had the privilege of connecting more deeply with them, exploring their backgrounds, future aspirations, and the significance of this scholarship in their lives. Join us as we spotlight their inspiring stories and celebrate their remarkable accomplishments.

Meet Farah Baliki

Farah Baliki, a 19-year-old from Damascus, Syria, is now attending York University in Toronto on a DFL scholarship. Farah has enrolled in the prestigious Computer Science program at the Lassonde School of Engineering, a natural step for someone who has held a deep passion for mathematics since her early years.

Farah’s love for math stems from its endless possibilities. “You can never be good at math; you can just unlock harder levels,” she explains. Her fascination with coding and problem-solving solidified her decision to pursue Computer Science, blending theoretical math with practical applications in technology.

Farah first discovered DFL through the Syrian Youth Empowerment Initiative, which led her to apply for the scholarship. She describes the opportunity as life-changing, adding that the support from the DFL team has been invaluable, not just in helping her move to Canada, but also in settling into her new life.

During DFL’s selection process, Farah stood out as a mature, well-rounded student, representing the values DFL aims to celebrate including academic excellence as recognized by York University’s achievement-based scholarship offers and offers of admission to her top two programs. Alongside her classroom achievements, Farah is a medal-winning debater, a decade-long musician, and a prolific writer, speaking to a wide breadth of talent and a curious spirit.

These qualities bolstered her candidacy and greatly impressed DFL’s selection committee who ultimately awarded her a DFL Scholarship. The young student from Damascus now looks ahead to a bright career in the tech space which she will pursue after she graduates, blazing a trail in a male-dominant field as an ambitious Middle Eastern woman with much to contribute.

“The kindness and generosity of the DFL team have motivated me to succeed in my education and inspired me to find ways to give back to this incredible foundation,” says Farah.

Farah arrived in Toronto on August 25th, 2024 and she has since embraced her new role as a university student, eager to make the most of this transformative opportunity.

Meet Alaa Abdallah

Alaa Abdallah, a 23-year-old scholar from Egypt, is the second-ever DFL scholar to attend the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) in British Columbia. She is pursuing a post-baccalaureate diploma in International Business, a program that aligns perfectly with her career ambitions.

Alaa’s professional background in engineering gave her a strong foundation, but she realized that advancing in her field would require a deeper understanding of business. Her goal is to rise into managerial roles, contributing to decision-making processes while shaping her own leadership style.

“I aspire to be a change driver in my community and globally, and for that, business knowledge is essential,” Alaa explains.

She first learned about DFL through her personal research but took an extra step by reaching out to Esraa Naguib, a DFL alumna who inspired her to apply. Alaa was accepted into the 2024 program and described the experience as “one of the highlights” of her life.

During DFL’s extensive screening and interview process, Alaa held her own among many competitors, embodying a highly thoughtful, and accomplished portfolio. Her dedication to her studies yielded her many previous scholarships, and her worldview is informed by her travels.

DFL recognized her perfect alignment with the foundation’s values as a deeply deserving candidate, making the final decision to award her with a DFL Scholarship clear. Alaa looks forward to a thriving career in the versatile field of consultancy after she completes her studies.

Alaa arrived safely in Abbotsford, British Columbia, on September 1st, 2024 and is eager to begin her studies at UFV. She looks forward to gaining the skills needed to compete on the global stage and has a strong desire to give back, both during and after her time as a DFL scholar.

Looking Ahead

The 2024 DFL Scholarship Program was highly competitive, and we are immensely proud of both Farah and Alaa for their achievements. We have no doubt that they will continue to excel and make a lasting impact in their respective fields.

Stay tuned for part two of our New Scholar Spotlight series, where we will introduce the remaining five DFL scholarship recipients for the 2024/25 academic year.