As the 2026/27 academic year begins, the Daughters for Life Foundation (DFL) is proud to welcome Wesal Aljabr, one of our newest scholars beginning her studies in Canada this fall. Her journey reflects determination, resilience and a deep commitment to using education to create opportunities for herself and others.
Meet Wesal Aljabr
Wesal is an 18-year-old scholar from Syria who will begin a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at York University in Toronto.
In 2018, Wesal and her family relocated to Beirut, Lebanon, after being displaced by the war in Syria. Her experiences with conflict and displacement gave her an early understanding of their emotional impact on young people and contributed to her interest in psychology and mental health.
Wesal’s path to higher education has been remarkable. At age twelve, after significant interruptions to her education, she joined the Alsama Project, which supports young refugees whose schooling has been disrupted by conflict. Determined to catch up academically, Wesal worked intensively over the following years, completing the equivalent of a K-12 education, earning an A average in Grade 11 and ultimately qualifying for admission to York University.
Beyond her studies, Wesal became a Child Protection Volunteer and cricket coach, helping create a supportive environment for young players and listening to their concerns and challenges. These experiences strengthened her empathy, communication and problem-solving skills and reinforced her desire to pursue psychology.
During her DFL scholarship interviews, Wesal spoke about wanting to become “someone who listens,” shaped by her understanding of what it means for young people facing trauma and difficult circumstances to feel they have no one to turn to. In the future, she hopes to use her education to help expand access to mental health support for young people and families in the Middle East.
A Scholar with a Strong Sense of Purpose
Following DFL’s highly competitive 2026/27 scholarship selection process, Wesal stood out for her academic potential, perseverance, humility and determination to use her education in service of others.
“Wesal represents exactly why Daughters for Life exists,” said Prof. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, Founder and President of the Daughters for Life Foundation. “When we invest in young women like Wesal, we are not only changing one life, we are investing in stronger communities and a more peaceful future.”
Having participated in both rounds of Wesal’s scholarship interviews, DFL Executive Director Jacklin Ibrahim was particularly struck by her sense of purpose.
“What stood out about Wesal was not only her resilience, but her deep sense of purpose,” said Ibrahim. “She spoke less about what this opportunity could do for her and more about what she hoped to do for others. Her humility, compassion and determination to give back left a lasting impression.”
A New Chapter at York University
Following the selection process, Wesal was awarded a full DFL scholarship in partnership with York University, opening the door for her to pursue her undergraduate education in Canada.
Her arrival is particularly meaningful as DFL and York University mark 10 years of partnership in expanding access to higher education for talented young women from the Middle East and North Africa.
At York, Wesal joins a Psychology program currently ranked 5th in Canada by the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. She looks forward to developing her academic interests, exploring research opportunities and learning within York’s diverse academic community.
She also joins DFL’s growing network of scholars and alumni, a community that extends beyond the scholarship itself through connection, mentorship and giving back.
For Wesal, this opportunity is not only about earning a degree. She hopes to become a role model for other young women facing barriers to education and, ultimately, to use what she learns to support young people and families in the Middle East.
Wesal’s journey is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when determination meets educational opportunity, and of the lasting impact that investing in a young woman’s education can create.