HerStory Initiative Mentee Awarded Prestigious $44,000 Beedie Luminaries Scholarship

The highly competitive British Columbia scholarship recognizes promising, resilient students who demonstrate academic excellence, overcome adversity, and show a profound commitment to uplifting their communities. For Zahra, the award is the culmination of a lifelong drive to learn, paired with the courage to start over.

Born in Herat, Afghanistan, and raised in Baku, Azerbaijan, Zahra's journey has been defined by a deep curiosity and a determination to pursue higher education. When she and her family relocated to Canada in February 2024, she faced the daunting task of navigating an entirely new education system. Through hard work, she successfully bridged that gap, graduating from École Alpha Secondary School in June 2025.

Reflecting on her journey, Zahra noted that arriving in Canada brought both significant challenges and profound personal growth.

"Starting over in a new country meant adapting to a new education system, building new connections, and navigating unfamiliar experiences," she shared. "Although it was a significant transition, it opened doors that encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, participate in mentorship programs, and discover strengths I hadn't fully recognized in myself."

A pivotal part of that transition was her involvement with the HerStory Initiative, a non-profit organization that connects young women with educational guidance.

"ROYA provided me with mentorship, encouragement, and a supportive community during an important transition in my life," Zahra explained. "Their guidance helped me strengthen my applications, pursue scholarship opportunities with confidence, and believe in my potential to achieve my goals."

Currently, Zahra is completing her post-secondary coursework at Douglas College and is preparing to transfer to a university this fall to pursue a future in engineering and technology. Thanks to the Beedie Luminaries Scholarship, her transition and subsequent studies will be fully supported financially.

Zahra's success highlights the broader impact of the HerStory Initiative. The organization launched the ROYA Mentorship Program as a pilot project to support Afghan girls who arrived in Canada following the fall of the Afghan government. The initiative was designed to provide these young women with the targeted, one-on-one guidance needed to successfully navigate the Canadian school system and access higher education.

During its inaugural pilot year, the program onboarded five mentees and paired them with five dedicated mentors. The results have been remarkable: all of the first cohort's mentees have received admission offers from top institutions across the country, including the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and York University.

Building on this momentum, the HerStory Initiative is now looking to support its next group of future leaders. Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort of the ROYA Program are currently open until July 15.

To learn more about the program, support the initiative, or apply to become a mentor or mentee, please visit the ROYA page on the website at www.herstory-af.org/roya