Raghad Al Zafir [she/her]

Rise on Boards | Cohort 9

Marhaba! I’m Raghad, I’m Syrian and currently majoring in Management and Organizational Studies with honours in finance, I bring a global perspective to my work—shaped by my experiences in Debate, youth advocacy and education equity.

I started my journey as a debater, where I got the chance to represent Syria in international competitions, I spoke up about Syrian status quo and underrepresented minorites. Since then, I’ve taken on leadership roles in nonprofit, academic, and competitive debate spaces. I coached youth teams, and led media and advocacy campaigns with organizations like Girl Up Syria and WUSC.

Currently, I’m interning at Second Chance, an international organazation to help high achieving low income studetns students get access to higher education, I manage program data and outreach efforts, and serve as Director of Advocacy for World Education Services Canada, helping connect students and alumni through inclusive programming. I’m a firm believer in the power of community-led change.

Joining Rise on Boards is an opportunity for me to grow as a changemaker while contributing meaningfully to spaces where youth voices and fresh perspectives are needed most.