A Bridge to the Future – Menna’s Story
For many students, the final year of high school is defined by graduation photos and college acceptance letters. For Menna, it was defined by a quiet, heavy question: “How can I afford to go?”
Menna grew up in a single-income refugee household. For seven years, her family was separated from her father, leaving her mother to raise four children alone.
As the youngest, Menna stepped up early. By age 15, she was working part-time to help pay for groceries and rent. “I’ve worked since I was 15 to save for school,” Menna shared.
The financial mountain was steep: her family carried debt that exceeded a quarter of their annual income, and her father was still awaiting his refugee hearing and work permit. The door to her future felt like it was closing.
And yet, Menna refused to let hardship define her. As Co-President of her school’s Muslim Student Association, she developed an Anti-Islamophobia Intervention Plan that became permanent school protocol. She co-founded a stem cell donor campaign, recruiting 40 volunteers and helping register over 1,000 donors. By graduation, she had completed an extraordinary 747 volunteer hours, all while balancing work and academics.
Recognizing her extraordinary leadership, a guidance counsellor encouraged Menna to apply for a Halton Learning Foundation Scholarship. When she was awarded the William G. Davis Scholarship, the impact was immediate. The weight she had carried for years was finally lifted.
“This scholarship does more than ease a financial burden,” Menna explained. “It allows me to pursue my education with focus and dignity. It means fewer night shifts and more time to study, rest, and contribute to my community. It’s a message that students like me—who carry responsibility far beyond our years—deserve a fair shot.”
Today, Menna is in her first year of university, no longer just a student struggling to get by, but a leader building a future for herself and her family. Her journey proves that when we eliminate financial barriers, there is no limit to what a Halton student can achieve.
