Human Rights Alumni of the Month Profile- December 2025

Mon. Dec. 22, 2025

We are proud to celebrate Damhat Zagros (BA 2025) as our alum of the month for December!

Damhat Zagros (he/him) is a human rights advocate and community organizer whose work focuses on refugee rights, youth engagement, and community-based advocacy. He completed his Bachelor of Arts (4-year) in Human Rights at Global College, graduating in June 2025.

As a Kurdish person who grew up in Syria, Damhat experienced firsthand what it means to live without recognition of one’s rights. As one of the Indigenous nations of the Middle East, Kurdish people have long faced systemic marginalization, shaping his early understanding of injustice, equity, and the need for systemic change. After spending seven years as a refugee in Lebanon, he settled in Winnipeg, where he became actively involved in refugee advocacy, settlement services, and youth programming. These lived experiences ultimately led him to pursue a Human Rights degree at Global College, after learning about the program through a friend, as a way to explore human rights more deeply and better understand the structures that impact people’s access to their human rights.

Reflecting on what drew him to study Human Rights in Winnipeg, Damhat describes the city as a place where human rights are not only studied, but also practiced. With its strong community organizations, diverse newcomer populations, and deep Indigenous presence, Winnipeg offered meaningful opportunities to connect theory to real-world issues. Studying human rights in this context allowed him to learn directly from communities and to see how local and global struggles for justice intersect.

During his studies, Damhat completed a practicum placement with the Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties (MARL), where he contributed to the development and delivery of a summer human rights youth camp. This hands-on experience strengthened his skills in program development, youth engagement, and human rights education, and reinforced the importance of accessible, community-driven advocacy.

After graduation, Damhat has continued to work in the human rights and community sector. He is currently a member of the Refugee Advisory Network of Canada (RAN Canada), advocating for refugee rights and policy change at both national and international levels. His advocacy work has taken him to the United Nations, where he recently co-delivered Canada’s statement at the 76th UNHCR Executive Committee session in Geneva as a refugee advisor with RAN Canada.

He also works as a Youth Group Facilitator at Resilia Community Wellness Centre, where he designs and leads trauma-informed, inclusive programs focused on mental health, belonging, social equity, and human rights. In addition, he serves on several community boards and committees dedicated to advancing human rights in Winnipeg.

Damhat credits the Human Rights program with strengthening his critical thinking, research, and advocacy skills. Reflecting on his time in the program, Damhat says,

“It helped me understand legal frameworks, international conventions, and systemic inequalities, which I now apply daily in program development, policy analysis, and community engagement.

The program also helped me translate complex human rights concepts into accessible language, which is essential in my work with youth, community members, and policymakers.”

He encourages current and prospective students to approach human rights with humility, openness, and a willingness to challenge their own perspectives. As Damhat explains,

“Human rights work requires humility, collaboration, and lifelong learning. For students with lived experience of human rights violations, remember that your life itself has been your first human rights classroom, give it a voice, share it, and let it guide you throughout your human rights journey.”