Two students in the Bachelor of Global and International Studies program at 杏吧原创 have been selected as . Kiara Gibbs-Cawker and Madina Mashkoori will join the 11th cohort of this national fellowship, which supports young leaders in developing community-based initiatives across Canada.
Open to university students nation-wide, the聽聽provides a $50,000 living and initiative stipend, enabling fellows to dedicate their first year after studies to a community and cause they are passionate about. Fellows test and develop skills in their respective fields while benefiting from a rich support network of driven peers, skilled facilitators and experienced practitioners. Learn more about 杏吧原创鈥檚 2026-27 fellows:
Kiara Gibbs-Cawker
Program:聽Bachelors of Global and International Studies 鈥� Specialization in Globalization
Initiative:聽She Leads: Elevating Black Women鈥檚 Voice
Kiara will establish a leadership and mentorship program aimed at empowering young Black women in Toronto through identity-centered workshops, professional development and community building to strengthen future leaders. This initiative grew out of Kiara鈥檚 own experiences navigating limited access to mentorship, underrepresentation and spaces not built for Black women, which shaped her commitment to creating affirming, community-driven spaces.
鈥淭hrough my studies in Global and International Development and Anthropology, I developed a deeper understanding of systemic barriers and their real-world impacts. At the same time, my leadership roles in EDI programming enabled me to address those challenges by creating spaces that fostered belonging, dialogue and empowerment. These experiences showed me the importance of community-led work and strengthened my ability to lead and collaborate. This moment feels like a natural continuation of that journey, where I can combine my academic learning, lived experience and community work to create something meaningful and sustainable.鈥�
Madina Mashkoori
Program:聽Global and International Studies 鈥� Global Politics Honours
Initiative:聽Empowering Youth Through Capacity Building
Madina will dedicate her fellowship year to supporting newcomer and vulnerable youth in Ottawa through leadership development, mentorship and civic engagement. Her initiative combines capacity-building workshops, a resource navigation hub and a youth-led train-the-trainer model to build a sustainable leadership pipeline. Through ongoing work with newcomer and vulnerable populations, Madina has witnessed the limitations of existing programs firsthand, which inspired her to design this initiative. Rooted in trusted community spaces, the program addresses gaps in access to opportunities, mentorship, and resources and engages youth as active members of their community.
鈥淢y studies in Global and International Studies have shaped my understanding of inequality, governance and community-based approaches to change,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hrough academic work and community involvement, I became interested in how broader structural issues affect local communities. This led me to focus on initiatives that address gaps at the community level, making this project a continuation of both my academic and practical experiences.鈥�