Success story – CNIB Foundation
The Ela Award is a scholarship presented by the CNIB Foundation in partnership with Sappani Foundation. It is granted to support girls pursuing post secondary education who have sight loss and are from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour) community (see application for details). The Sappani Foundation strives to inspire, educate, and empower, believing that education has the single largest impact in our ability to transform lives of people from impoverished and marginalized communities. CNIB’s work in supporting those with vision-loss made them an ideal partner for the Sappani Foundation in offering this award.
Hodan Ahmed is the winner of the 2021 Ela Award.
Education is the single most important factor in driving change in the lives of people. Through the Ela Award, we are pleased to help female BIPOC students pursue their dreams. Congratulations Hodan.
Vijay Sappani, Chair of the Sappani Foundation
As a person who is both visually impaired, black, and Muslim, I want to be able to let my voice be via the work I would potentially produce, whether that be articles and videos, or more creative outlets like short stories and novels. After university, I hope to become a professional writer and use my skills to contribute in making a better world for those who are fully blind/visually impaired, have other disabilities, and BIPOC individuals.
Hodan Ahmed, winner of the 2021 Ela Award
The financial support of organizations like The Sappani Foundation are critical in helping to remove some of the barriers associated with pursuing education for people with sight loss. The Ela Award will continue to help fuel the ambitions of BIPOC students who are blind or partially sighted as they pursue their educational journeys. All of us at CNIB congratulate Hodan on receiving this prestigious award.
April Assenza, Executive Business Partner and Lead, Operations and Special Events, CNIB
About Sappani Foundation The Sappani Foundation strives to inspire, educate, and empower, believing that education has the single largest impact in our ability to transform lives of people from impoverished and marginalized communities. This is the essence of their annual scholarship, the ‘Ela Award’, which supports post-secondary education for children (primarily girls) who have sight loss, and are from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour) community.
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About CNIB
Founded in 1918, CNIB is a non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind today. We deliver innovative programs and powerful advocacy that empower people impacted by blindness to live their dreams and tear down barriers to inclusion. Our work as a blind foundation is powered by a network of volunteers, donors and partners from coast to coast to coast. To learn more or get involved, visit cnib.ca.
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Karin.McArthur@cnib.ca