A Barrie resident is among 15 young Canadians to receive the 2023 Terry Fox Humanitarian Award.
Nyla Nasir was chosen for the award, which comes with a scholarship worth up to $28,000 “to recognize young humanitarians who have demonstrated extraordinary courage and determination in overcoming an obstacle and positively impacted an area of critical need in society, while excelling in academics, athletics, and civic life,” according to a news release.
Nasir is the eldest daughter of a refugee who sought asylum in Canada because of a lack of religious freedom.
“Nyla grew up thinking her identity was wrong since it had caused so much pain and loss,” the release noted.
Nasir was elected as a Simcoe County District School Board student trustee in Grade 11 while at Bear Creek Secondary School. She also spent more than 200 hours tutoring underprivileged children.
“Being the compassionate person she is, Nyla noticed a lack of effective communication harming the well-being of children with special needs and others during summer camp. To resolve this, she researched and implemented more innovative programming such as how to make games and activities more equitable, the employment of visual aids for children with autism, and how to optimize schedules for children with ADHD.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nasir founded the Canadian chapter of Horizon Networks, a non-profit organization focused on addressing isolation faced by seniors in care homes.
“Being a first-generation child comes at a heavy price," she said. "We have to bear the immense guilt that our parents left their home countries to give us a better life, which comes with huge responsibilities.
"It involves staying true to yourself and not losing your values while navigating the complex world of the multiple identities we develop,” Nasir added. “At times, it was a struggle and drain on my mental health, but it helped me develop the resilience, focus, and determination to create a better future for myself and others.”
Nasir will attend Harvard University in the fall, and she “aspires to become an OB-GYN to combat the stigmas surrounding female health in marginalized communities.”
