麻豆传媒

Arefin moved to Halifax with his wife and toddler from Bangladesh, where he studied Cultural Anthropology at BRAC University. Notably, he is the first of three generations to move to North America to pursue higher education, a significant departure from his family's usual trajectory. After graduation, he worked with professors on various research projects, covering topics such as the ready-made garment industries, religious institutions, and labor practices. From 2019 to 2013, he worked with three NGOs: the Reproductive Health Services Training & Education Project, Action Air Bangladesh, and the British Red Cross. His experience with these NGOs inspired him to apply to the MA in IDS program at 麻豆传媒. For his master鈥檚 research, Arefin plans to investigate the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the development sector in Bangladesh. He intends to explore the changes in US policies post-9/11 and examine their effects on US foreign policy, funding agencies, and implementing partners, and how these changes have influenced NGOs in Bangladesh.

Despite growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Cara spent every summer with her grandparents on the East Coast and truly considers it her home. During these summers, she learned to sail, coached sailing, and worked seasonally for the Canadian Coast Guard. After a gap year traveling in Australia, Cara enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Land and Food Systems program at the University of British Columbia. Following her undergraduate degree, she was intrigued by the interdisciplinary nature of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 MA in IDS program and eager to live in the city she loves, so she decided to make the move to Halifax. Her time with the Coast Guard sparked her passion for social justice and sustainability in the food system, particularly in the ocean around Nova Scotia. Cara鈥檚 research employs qualitative methods to explore how women involved in kelp harvesting in the Gulf of Maine and the Atlantic provinces of Canada experience their connection to nature and how this interaction influences their perceptions and experiences of climate adaptation.

Leslie is from Nanaimo, British Columbia. From a young age, she participated in various athletics and outdoor recreation activities, most notably horseback riding, eventually becoming a competitive dressage athlete and instructor. She also volunteered with local and international organizations from an early age. For her undergraduate degree, she pursued an Honours degree in Political Science and History. Leslie's appreciation for an interdisciplinary approach to complex societal issues led her to apply to the IDS program. Her research focuses on the implications of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in Canada鈥檚 international development efforts, using Global Affairs Canada projects in Colombia as case studies. This will help her analyze the role Canada should or might play in promoting a feminist approach to international development on a larger scale. Leslie notes that the future of Canada鈥檚 鈥渇eminist鈥� approach to foreign policy is uncertain, making it a timely and interesting topic to consider. She has many aspirations for the future, including traveling more and pursuing a PhD in International Relations, with the ultimate goal of working for the UN or the Canadian government in the policy sphere.

Nisita hails from Bangladesh, where she worked for an international NGO. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time in nature, and participating in sports. She holds a BA in Women and Gender Studies, and much of her professional experience reflects her deep commitment to women鈥檚 empowerment issues. Throughout her career, she has worked with various marginalized migrant communities, including the Bihari community, Rohingya refugees, and slum dwellers. This experience instilled in her a profound empathy for their struggles and resilience. After moving to Canada to pursue her MA in International Development Studies (IDS), she began to recognize the struggles faced by immigrants in a new light. As a result, her thesis will examine how intersectional issues contribute to women immigrants鈥� integration and how they perceive their empowerment status. Regardless of the project, Nisita always strives to make gender-sensitive decisions, which is a cornerstone of her professional and personal philosophy and guides her efforts to create positive change for women and marginalized communities.

Rachel grew up in Nigeria but has lived in several countries, including India, Switzerland, and South Africa. Traveling from a young age sparked their interest in how various places perceive social 'issues' and groups of people, and how these perceptions can lead to one-sided portrayals. When they moved to Halifax to pursue their Bachelor鈥檚 degree and began volunteering, primarily with Apathy is Boring, they realized their potential to contribute to work concerning systematically oppressed and underrepresented groups. This experience heavily influenced their decision to research 'Queer Sex Work in Nigeria' for their undergraduate thesis. As a Black person, Rachel recognized the importance of contributing to work done for Black people by Black people. Currently, through their MA research, they are working on diversifying the concept of what it means to be Black in the context of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in academic institutions. They note that the successes and struggles of these identities are often viewed in isolation, and they aim to challenge this monolithic view by bringing these experiences to the forefront of their work.

Savandhi was born in Canada but raised entirely in Sri Lanka. Before pursuing her MA in International Development Studies at 麻豆传媒, she earned a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in Environmental Studies from York University in Toronto. For her master鈥檚 research, she is exploring the links between Sri Lanka鈥檚 ethnic conflict between the Sinhala-dominant state and the LTTE (1983-2009) and the country鈥檚 colonial period. She notes that the conflict is often analyzed in terms of post-independence events, but she believes that reconciliation efforts are of little use unless the root of the problem, which she argues is deeply embedded in the colonial period, is addressed. Following the completion of her MA, she hopes to be involved in decolonial and sustainability policymaking, primarily in Sri Lanka but also globally. She also aspires to work towards creating a more decolonial and inclusive educational system in Sri Lanka and hopes to help destigmatize mental and sexual health in the country.

Tanha is originally from Bangladesh but has studied at four different universities across Canada and the USA, studying Economics in Finance. However, it wasn鈥檛 until she arrived at 麻豆传媒 to pursue her BA (Hons) in IDS that she finally felt at home.After completing her BA, Tanha worked as a Campus Mobilization Officer for the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), where she supported hundreds of youth from 43 post-secondary institutions across Ontario, raising awareness and taking action on forced migration, refugee education, and youth empowerment. She has also volunteered extensively with various organizations, including the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia and the Study and Stay Nova Scotia Program. In 2024, Tanha was awarded the Governor's Award at 麻豆传媒 for her leadership and contributions in extracurricular activities. Her MA research explores the impact of government regulation changes on Canada鈥檚 private refugee resettlement, aiming to create a more inclusive and equitable process in Canada and abroad. Outside her studies, Tanha is co-authoring and co-editing two books, anticipated to be published in 2025 and 2026. She also works as an English as an Additional Language instructor, supporting newcomers in learning English, most of whom have fled war and conflict.