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Recognizing the slow pace of cultural change, Dr. Aghakhani pondered his role in fostering progress and promoting shared social responsibility. Leveraging his position within the academic community, he established the Women, Life, Freedom Scholarship, aimed at making education more accessible to women from Iran pursuing graduate studies.

The guiding vision behind the scholarship was to help alleviate financial barriers for students. Despite initial doubts about support from outside the affected community, Dr. Aghakhani was heartened by the overwhelming response from both the Iranian-Canadian and H���� communities. 

Many showed their support by donating, sharing details about the fund within their communities, and submitting words of encouragement. In April 2024, the scholarship achieved its fundraising goal of $40,000, allowing more students to receive this important assistance. 

"The fund may not be as sizeable compared to other scholarships within and outside the institution," Aghakhani says, "but it's a crucial starting point."

A beacon of hope

One of the inaugural recipients of the Women, Life, Freedom Scholarship—who will be referred to as KH in this story for anonymity purposes—embodies the transformative impact of this initiative. 

Immigrating to Canada in 2022 with her husband and child, KH arrived seeking opportunities for personal and academic growth. With a background in IT engineering and more than a decade of industry experience in Iran, she embarked on a second master's program in Business with a concentration in Management Information Systems at H����.

For KH, pursuing education in Canada offered not only a chance to enhance her skills, but also more resources that would enable her to achieve her goals. Drawn to a program that combined her technical expertise with her passion for business, she found a welcoming environment that nurtured her aspirations.

When queried about her achievements, KH highlights “In the courses I have taken, I have passed with A+’s in all of them…I have met and become familiar with great people here, which has expanded my circle of friends, a very important accomplishment for me and I have also gained knowledge of a new culture.” 

However, the journey was not without its challenges. The emotional toll of the Women, Life, Freedom movement weighed heavily on KH, highlighting the often-overlooked impact of global events on international students' academic pursuits. When faced with the prospect of extending her semester to continue her research, financial constraints threatened to interfere with her dreams—until she was notified of her scholarship award.

"It was a wonderful feeling," KH recalls. "Knowing that I'm supported by a community that understands and cares for me."

The power of shared responsibility

KH's story underscores the transformative potential of initiatives such as the Women, Life, Freedom Scholarship in breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity. Dr. Aghakhani emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing the myriad obstacles—financial, social, and cultural—that hinder women's academic and professional advancement.

"By removing barriers, we make it easier for individuals to achieve their full potential,” he says.

For KH, as she looks toward the future, she envisions a society where talents are recognized without regard for gender, religion, or nationality. In the pursuit of this vision, KH urges others to seek out and support initiatives such as the Women, Life, Freedom Scholarship that embody the principles of inclusivity and empowerment.

"Life is constantly fluctuating, it is full of many ups and downs," she says. “But, with courage and support, we can overcome them together."