Hi! My name is Maya, and I am a second-year University of Toronto student studying neuroscience, a photographer and filmmaker, and a youth advocate focused on women’s rights, social justice, and community empowerment. I use art, media, and storytelling as tools to build connection, amplify underrepresented voices, and create meaningful change.

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I moved to Canada four years ago, and since then I have actively sought opportunities to involve myself in my school, university, and the wider community. During high school at Central Toronto Academy, I held multiple leadership roles across school and community initiatives. I co-produced CTA’s Welcome to School video, served as a CTA ambassador for International Women’s Day and global media interviews, and MC’d events featuring international guests such as Miss Universe 2016 Keysi Sayago. I was also deeply involved in feminist and equity-based initiatives, including organizing protests supporting women’s rights in Iran, increasing Muslim student representation through MSA events, and participating in social entrepreneurship programs focused on branding, networking, and event planning.

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As a creative leader with AIM (Artivism Inclusivism Movement), I planned and co-led mentor mixers and networking events in partnership with organizations such as Mothers to Daughters and Indeed Labs. My largest initiative, If the Crown Fits, was a photography and film project created in response to the killing of Mahsa Amini. The project brought together over 20 models from diverse cultural backgrounds to explore identity, resistance, and womanhood through traditional dress and spoken word. It evolved into a documentary, exhibition, and fundraising campaign, with proceeds donated to the Women’s Refugee Organization in Toronto, and later won Best Spoken Word Documentary at the CANIFF x CTA Fashion Film Festival.

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I founded CTA’s first Photography Club, volunteered as a camp counselor, worked over 800 hours as an Early Childhood Education Assistant, and volunteered with seniors in my community. Since starting university, I have continued to put myself out in the community through leadership roles centered on youth empowerment, wellness, and collective care. As an Orientation Coordinator, I design and lead programming that supports more than 500 first-year students. I also care deeply about newcomers and underrepresented youth by creating welcoming spaces that prioritize mental health, peer support, and a sense of belonging in the college space. I mentor orientation leaders, coordinate wellness-focused initiatives, and help students feel confident and supported as they transition into university life. I also contribute as a student council participant and college ambassador, supporting inclusive community-building efforts and fundraising initiatives. In addition, I participated in the Mothers to Daughters billboard photoshoot, a public art project amplifying women’s voices and the power of intergenerational mentoring.

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As a young immigrant, I bring lived experience, resilience, and cultural awareness into my work. I continue to pursue photography and filmmaking alongside my neuroscience studies, while advocating for women and youth and building spaces rooted in care, creativity, and belonging.