Ayan Absiye
Ayan Absiye is a dedicated policy researcher and grassroots activist, passionately committed to creating inclusive and transformative government policies. As a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto, she majors in Political Science with minors in African Studies and History.
Ayan's work is centered on ensuring that minority voices are integral to the policymaking process, engaging in both government and NGO sectors. Her research approach is deeply community-centered, emphasizing the integration of diverse perspectives at national and international levels. Ayan has served in the Prime Minister's Office of Canada and for the Minister of Women and Gender Equality. She collaborates closely with Operation Black Vote Canada as an 1834 Policy Fellow, where she conducted impactful research on housing challenges faced by Black refugees and asylum seekers in Canada. During the summer of 2022, she contributed to a successful campaign with the ONE Campaign, securing a Canadian monetary commitment to the Global Fund aim to end preventable diseases in Africa.
Internationally, she has presented her findings on systemic discrimination, economic inequality, and access to justice at the Third Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent in Geneva and New York, advocating for global policy reforms to enhance the rights of marginalized communities. Ayan’s current research on "Diaspora and Youth Engagement in Africa-Canada Policy Making" continues to highlight her commitment to impactful, evidence-based solutions. As the former President of the African Studies Course Union at the University of Toronto and recipient of the Black Excellence Award at UofT for her research and activism, Ayan’s primary goal is to ensure that minority voices are not only heard but are a driving force in shaping policy at all levels.
What are the most meaningful aspects of this person's work and life?
Ayan has dedicated immense effort in vocalizing the voices of the black Muslim community in Canada. As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s outreach intern she worked tirelessly to connect black Muslims from all over Canada with the Prime Minister so they can voice their thoughts with government. Her African studies compliment her commitment to keeping her connection with her community strong through academia.
How has this individual overcome the challenges they face?
She has overcome the challenges she faces through her faith in God and her ability to hold onto her values.
How has this individual empowered you and/or our communities?
Ayan empowers me as a muslim woman through her incredible rigour and dedication to working hard and accomplishing great things. She is a great role model for black Muslim women across Canada. I deeply respect her and her commitment to be the voice for the black Muslim community in Canada through her involvement in public policy.
Name a Black Muslim woman who has been an inspiration to you and why.
Professor Marieme Lo at the University of Toronto has been an incredible mentor and source of inspiration to me, both as a leader and as a fellow Muslimah. As a student in her program at the University of Toronto, I have had the privilege of experiencing firsthand her profound commitment to guiding students like myself. She encourages us to transcend traditional European constructs and embrace innovative ways of thinking that are deeply rooted in our own cultures and histories.
Under her guidance, I have learned to challenge prevailing narratives and to forge paths that honor our unique perspectives and contributions. Professor Lo not only teaches us about gender, development, and social justice through an academic lens but also embodies these principles in her everyday actions, inspiring us to live them out in our own lives. Her support and teachings have been instrumental in shaping my understanding of what it means to be a scholar and a practitioner of change.
As a Muslimah, she exemplifies the strength and wisdom that come from a life dedicated to service and scholarship, continually motivating me to strive for excellence and integrity in all that I do. Her impact extends far beyond the classroom, influencing hundreds of students and supporting a new generation of thinkers and leaders.