Meet white ribbon'S 2020-2021 MALE allies

AMMAR

Ammar is of Syrian background, and immigrated to Canada in 2015. He has continued his education in Canada and became a certified Project Manager. Ammar decided to be a White Ribbon male ally, because he believes in women’s right to live free from violence.  The impact of violence ranges from immediate to long-term multiple physical, sexual and mental consequences, and he believes that we should all stand to stop the violence against women and girls, by educating others and sharing knowledge.
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DESIRE

Desire is a Canadian man born in Eastern Africa in Burundi. He moved to Canada in March 2002, and settled permanently in Toronto.  He graduated with a Masters Degree in Public and International Affairs from York University. Due to his high interests in immigration and refugees’ issues, he also completed a graduate certificate in Forced Migration and Refugees Issue, also from York University.
His work experience is highlighted by his commitment to immigration and refugees’ issues, and he currently serves  as a homeland agent for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in GTA.

​Desire is interested in helping new immigrants who are experiencing domestic violence, an issue that is very important to him in his work. 

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HABIB

Habib was born in Morocco, obtained his MBA in financial management in USA and moved to Toronto, where he has lived for the last 15 years. Habib volunteered in several non-profit organizations such Moroccan Association, OUMA youth soccer, and various others.

He is inspired by the possibility of change, and is deeply concerned about all forms of gender-based violence, including physical, sexual, emotional/ psychological, and financial, and the long term physical and mental health harm of gender-based violence. For these reasons, he wants to be a White Ribbon male ally in Toronto.

MAHDI

Mahdi is of Djibouti origin and a former Foreign Service Officer, who volunteered in foreign aid programmes funded by Global Affairs Canada. He has been part of projects aimed to increase the ability of local in-country partners to address local challenges and enhance Canadians’ participation in, and understanding of, Canadas’ international development work. Having a great passion for community service, he was also the secretary of the non-profit organization ‘Madbakh Women Initiative Inc’, an initiative in the heart of Etobicoke aimed at empowering children and families in the eastern African communities. After his arrival in Canada, Mahdi has continued his studies and obtained a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, and a Master of Public and International Affairs from York University. 

Mahdi wants to join White Ribbon because many of his friends and family lived in Montreal at the time of the Montreal massacre, and that he was personally affected by the tragedy. He was also personally affected by the 2018 Toronto van attack, which led to the killing of eight women and two men.

SOFONIAS

Sofonias is a Torontonian originally from Ethiopia. He is currently attending his last year at Ryerson University studying Biomedical Science. He also has a tremendous passion towards visual art, which he uses to spread awareness of various issues in his community, in the hopes of making an inclusive environment for everyone.

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2019-2020 MALE ALLIES

ABDELLAH

Abdellah moved to Montreal, Canada in 1999 from Morrocco. After a few months in Montreal, Abdellah left for the United States to pursue his dream of studying business where he got his MBA. Abdellah decided to settle down in Toronto, and lives in the North York community. Abdellah has volunteered in numerous non-profit organizations, including United Way, the Moroccan Association of Toronto (AMDT), where he was president in 2011 and vice-president from 2006 to 2008. 

​Guiding his interest in being a White Ribbon male ally, in 2018, Abdellah witnessed the Toronto Van attack and intervened to support victims. 

Abdellah is the father of three beautiful daughters.

BASIM
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Basim is of Pakistani origin and is a high school student looking to pursue an engineering degree. With a passion for community service he enjoys being an activist. Cultural norms, personal experiences and his volunteer work in the community have driven him to spread the word of violence against women, and its prevention.
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He is a firm believer of giving back to the community, which is why he decided to participate in The Immigrant and Refugee Communities, Neighbors, Friends, and Families Campaign.

 


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KAMAL

Kamalendran is a first year student in the Social Service Worker program at Seneca College, specializing in immigrant and refugee settlement. He is an outreach intern at CanTYD, acting as a male ally/mentor with youth. 
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This is opportunity is aligned with his goal in obtaining a diploma in social service work, breaking stigma leading to discrimination and neglect.

RALPH

Ralph was born in Montreal to parents from Haiti. He settled in Toronto soon after completing his degree at McMaster University. Ralph was particularly affected by the Montreal Massacre, at that time, his oldest sister was a student there. Ralph reflects back to that day. “My my sister had night class, my family was worried because we didn't have cell phones, as they were not as commons today. Thankfully, she arrived home unscathed, but I will never forget this tragic event.”
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Ralph has been very active in community activism. He has been a speaker with Passage Canada since 2015, and visits schools to speak with children about diversity and immigration inclusion. I was a member of the Haitian Cultural Network. I volunteered in organizing many films, documentary festivals, and cultural events promoting French with the Centre Francophone de Toronto and College Boreal.

Another reason he wants to join as an ally is the Toronto Van Attack, which killed eight women and two men.

TAM
Tam is Abyssinian by origin and a first year student at Seneca College, Social Service Worker Program with a focus on immigration and refugees. Tam is working toward obtaining a diploma and career in social service work. He is a passionate about addressing systemic racism centering around Black/Brown community.

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2018-2019 PEER CHAMPIONS

Leroy

​My name is Leroy, and I’m a peer champion with OCASI’s Immigrant and Refugee Communities, Neighbours, Friends and Families Campaign and White Ribbon Canada.

A peer champion is someone who works with other guys in his community to end gender-based violence by teaching others how they can promote healthy masculinities and consent culture.

Every couple weeks, I get some guys together and we talk about how we can prevent violence against women and girls in our communities, and we have fun doing it. You should join us. You can start by taking the White Ribbon pledge to learn how you can get started.

Moyofoluwa (Moyo) Adekunle

​I’m a student at Seneca College studying social services, and I choose to be a peer champion for many reasons, not just because a woman gave birth to me.

I joined White Ribbon because of the connection I found in women that has helped shape my life, which replicates a “Best Practice of my existence of 42 years.”

I noticed that I gained more moral support, financial success and opportunities growing up as a youth, becoming a man, from the women I came across in my life.

Arriving in Canada, women have always been my pillar of success. It got to the point that whenever I go to a clinic to request a service and they ask me do I want a male or female to be my doctor, counselor or social worker, I don't even wait for the person to complete the statement, I just finish it for the person by saying female.

My role as a peer champion in support of the White Ribbon, Immigrant and Refugee Communities - Neighbours, Friends and Families campaign is one of the opportunities and efforts that I passionately support to show my partnership in promoting the positive role men and boys can play to end gender-based violence.

I learned to become a “Leader” from the activities carried out and also to empower and educate men and boys out there on the importance of gender equality.

 
JOIN Leroy, moyo and THE GROWING MOVEMENT OF MEN AND BOYS COMMITTED TO ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS.

TAKE THE PLEDGE