Olive Tree Foundation Grant Empowers Student Leaders to Combat Islamophobia
The Olive Tree Foundation has awarded a grant to the Islamophobia Research Hub at York University and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) to equip young student leaders with the tools to challenge Islamophobia in their schools and communities.
A summit for over 350 student leaders from across Canada will be held to provide them with networking opportunities, advocacy skills, and strategies to identify and address Islamophobia on campuses. This initiative comes in response to a significant increase in Islamophobic incidents reported by NCCM. This project is funded, in part, by the Ghulam Sajan Fund and the Shamim and Farida Siddiqi Family Fund within the Olive Tree Foundation.
"As students return to school, the National NCCM Student Summit offers a crucial platform to empower them with the knowledge and tools to create safe and inclusive learning environments," said Aasiyah Khan, VP of Education & External Relations at NCCM.
Dr. Nadia Hasan, Assistant Professor at York University, emphasized the urgent need for such initiatives, stating, "Our youth face unacceptable levels of discrimination and hate in educational spaces. We hope this summit will empower students and contribute to safer campuses and schools across Canada."
The Islamophobia Research Hub will partner with NCCM to deliver the summit's content.
"Given the alarming rise in Islamophobia, it's imperative that we train young leaders to counter and address it," said Naeem Siddiqi, Vice Chair of the Olive Tree Foundation. "We believe this initiative will not only benefit campuses but also contribute to a more inclusive society."
The Olive Tree Foundation is a philanthropic organization dedicated to community development, while the Islamophobia Research Hub is a community-engaged space focused on combating Islamophobia through research, innovation, and narrative change. The National Council of Canadian Muslims is an organization committed to protecting the human rights and civil liberties of Canadian Muslims and challenging Islamophobia.
