Amal Al-Mahdi, a 17-year-old high school student from Edmonton, has been awarded the prestigious TD Community Leadership Scholarship for her work in refugee mentorship and youth advocacy.
Amal, whose family arrived from Yemen eight years ago, co-founded Bridge Forward, a mentorship program that helps newly arrived Arabic-speaking youth adjust to Canadian schools. She also volunteers weekly at the public library, helping younger students with reading and homework.
“This scholarship isn’t just about me—it’s about showing that our community has something powerful to offer,” Amal said in her speech at the awards ceremony.
She plans to study political science at the University of Toronto starting this fall.