What was the initiative?

Laila’s initiative encompassed three key components: rehabilitation, education, and prevention. Firstly, she established a rehabilitation and intake program tailored specifically for Muslim women survivors of human trafficking. This program, rooted in research and community engagement, was developed in collaboration with the Anti-Human Trafficking program coordinator at Sakeenah Canada, as well as social workers and researchers. By addressing data collection challenges and ensuring survivors receive care that is culturally and religiously cognizant, Laila’s initiative aimed to support their journey towards recovery through a decolonial lens. 

In addition, Laila collaborated with educators and trauma-informed facilitators to develop educational materials. She led workshops for high school and middle school students. In partnership with the Anti-Human Trafficking program coordinator, she developed, organized, and moderated virtual webinars. These events provided safe spaces for community members to learn about human trafficking. The space focused on encouraging and nurturing questions about sensitive topics such as human trafficking and exploitation within the community. 

With the alarming reality that the average age of recruitment into sex trafficking is just 13 years old in mind, Laila founded the Young Muslim Athletes. The program’s mission was to create a nurturing environment for young Muslim girls, fostering self-love, confidence, and camaraderie through sports. The program’s mission is to diminish the prevalence of human trafficking within the Muslim community in Ottawa through a community-based approach.  

What was the community connection?

Laila is deeply committed to advocating for women’s rights and empowering Muslim women through her initiative. Being a visibly Muslim woman, she has actively engaged in various advocacy efforts within her community, particularly in areas concerning women’s reproductive health rights and the fight against gender-based violence. Her efforts have resulted in notable policy changes within institutions, guaranteeing fair access to crucial women’s hygiene and reproductive products. Laila’s collaboration with Sakeenah Canada, a Muslim women’s shelter, is rooted in the shared identity and mutual goals within society. Their partnership reflects a common mission to support and uplift women in need, creating a stronger, more inclusive community. 

How was it innovative?

The existing lack of awareness regarding the various forms of human trafficking has created a significant disconnect in understanding how it affects both the Muslim community and the broader community of Ontario. This has led to a shortage of culturally and religiously cognizant resources for Muslim women survivors of human trafficking, a lack of community support, and the isolation of survivors. To address this issue, Laila’s initiative leverages research and focuses on bridging the gap through rehabilitation, education, and prevention efforts within the Muslim community. 

Some significant achievements include the establishment of an anti-human trafficking program by Sakeenah Canada, developed through extensive research and collaboration with national trafficking initiatives, specifically tailored to support Muslim women survivors, incorporating cultural and religious perspectives. Laila, alongside this initiative, has conducted trauma-informed workshops on human trafficking awareness for over 210 high school students across Ontario, addressing online exploitation and trafficking indicators. Furthermore, she played a key role in co-designing a trauma-informed intake form for Sakeenah Canada, enhancing support for survivors in collaboration with stakeholders. Additionally, Laila spearheaded the design and implementation of a nationwide human trafficking course for service providers at Sakeenah Canada, with adaptations to meet the needs of the Muslim community. Moreover, she moderated conferences featuring expert panelists, facilitating discussions, and addressing concerns within the Muslim community regarding human trafficking. Lastly, Laila’s founding of the Young Muslim Athletes initiative has provided a platform for over 70 Muslim girls to engage in sports, fostering a safe environment for representation and mentorship regardless of socioeconomic background. 

What is Laila doing now?

Laila was selected as an Fully Funded International Youth Delegate in Victoria BC on May 2024 to explore new methods of advancing research-informed policy changes in order to better support survivors of gender-based violence. Laila will continue to advocate and facilitate awareness workshops on Human trafficking across school districts and community gatherings in Canada. Additionally, Laila will be expanding the Young Muslim Athletes by incorporating a vertical mentorship program for young Muslim girls to continue the community’s involvement in the program and increase sustainability. Laila hopes to continue her work advocating for women’s rights and against gender-based violence.