about the panel format : “ It was great that it was that way because a lot of topics came up that I wouldn ’ t have touched on because for me they were everyday things , even questions about why I wear the hijab and why my sister doesn ’ t , basic questions about Islam , and my view point on conflicts around the world . I ’ m not a token representative of all Muslims , so the panel gave a variety of viewpoints ,” she says . The event was well-attended , one of the busiest ESS events that year , with 50-60 people attending . CBC covered the event and it was also live-streamed on Facebook .
“ My parents look at me now , and they are surprised too , saying ‘ You were never like this ; you were so quiet and felt uncomfortable with public speaking .’ Now every chance I get , I ’ m out there .” Aysha credits her transformation as growing out of her experience of feeling supported by her peers and professors : It was “ having that moment where I felt enough support to be vulnerable and express how I felt , and sharing that ‘ your silence is hurting me ,’ and getting their response in return ,” she says .
Still quiet in some ways , Aysha likes to achieve extraordinary things while maintaining a low profile . Though she only walked the Faculty of Education ' s halls for four years , Aysha managed to earn both a B . Ed . ( English Language Arts and Social Studies ) and a B . A . in English . Students typically take five years to finish a combined degree program , but Aysha , taking between six and eight classes per term , finished in four years . Aysha laughs , saying , “ Nicole Glas , [ Student Services Coordinator ] asked her ‘ Are you sure ?’ I said ‘ absolutely ,’ but I got to the point where I wasn ’ t sure ... I even had a course during internship !"
Pencils of Hope As if squeezing a 5-year program into four years wasn ' t enough , along with serving in the Education Students ' Society for two years ( one as VP of Communications ), and organizing Meeta-Muslim night , Aysha maintained her own photography business , and founded a charitable organization called Pencils of Hope .
It was during her second term of University that a plan to support marginalized youth formed in her mind : “ The principal from Chief Kahkewistahaw Community School , came in to our class to talk about schooling and education and how it is important for U of R grads to go out on reserves and experience teaching there . I chatted with him later about funding , and learned that federal funding on reserves , and schools on reserves , is significantly less than funding for schools off reserves . I had thought all schools were the same ! I remember going home to my parents and talking about it : ‘ I want to do something ; already there ’ s such a drastic change between conditions on and off reserves . And all the discrimination that goes on ... it doesn ’ t seem right that in education , especially ,— we say Canada has such great education and equal access to education but it doesn ’ t seem like it .’ So , my parents asked me what I wanted to do . I said ‘ I don ’ t know , but I want to do something .’ Over breakfast , we talked about names , and I thought ' Pencils of Hope ' was a good name and my dad said , ‘ What do you want to do with that ?’ I talked to the principal again , and I said , ' Why don ’ t I try this ? I ’ m a photographer by hobby . I ’ ll donate everything I make through photography to this cause . If I can get enough funds , will you accept my gift of supplies to this school ?' I tried it out my first year and it worked out really well ."
Since then the organization has “ snowballed ,” says Aysha . Sponsors started making small donations . A committee was formed . For the first three years , Pencils of Hope partnered with one school each year . But this year , the committee decided to partner with four schools . “ Four schools was a huge difference . We received a grant from Taking it Global , which offered a rising youth grant ."
Donations and , therefore , spending has increased substantially over the four years of existence . The first year the group spent $ 750 on supplies and this year they spent over $ 4000 , with carry over for next year . Pencils of Hope has made some changes to their vision as well : “ This year we ’ ve changed our vision to match the Calls to Action . So from here on out we made a vow to partner with at least one school on a reserve .” The group is also making supplies available to individual students who may not be in a school that is in partnership with Pencils of Hope .
For Aysha , this work has been part of her journey toward reconciliation . " I know in the long run it isn ' t much at all , but in my way , in my journey to reconciliation , I can do this one thing ."
Doing this project in a good way , a humble way , has been one of Aysha ' s goals : " When we talk about Pencils of Hope , I don ' t like to be called the founder . It is still a journey , still a process ; I ' m still learning , of course . Meeting with different elders and profs and being able to exchange knowledge , learn indigenous ways of knowing and culture , and how to go about this in a more humble way , it ’ s been very uncomfortable , but it ’ s been a great kind of uncomfortable ... It ' s not learning if it ' s not uncomfortable ."
Aysha has learned many things along her journey , but one thing stands out in her mind , " It ' s hard doing it alone , not fun to do it alone ." She advises others who would like to do something similar to , " Get many people involved and see what they will do ."
Now a first-year teacher at Balfour Collegiate , Aysha plans to carry on with the work of Pencils of Hope , with the support of her committee , family and community . " I anticipate it is going to be busy , but to me that is a good thing , to me that means more schools and more partnerships , and more relationships — expanding ."
By Shuana Niessen
" I know in the long run it isn ' t much at all , but in my way , in my journey to reconciliation , I can do this one thing ."
Education News | Page 11