Human Rights Alumni of the Month Profile - August 2026

Wed. Aug. 12, 2026

Magi Hadad
BA (4-Year), Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Studies, 2023

Born in Syria, Magi Hadad spent several years living in Jordan before coming to Canada in 2016. As she adjusted to a new country, she was trying to understand where she belonged and what direction she wanted her education to take. Those years were difficult, and for a time she was unsure whether she wanted to continue school at all. A community leader helped change that direction by introducing her to Conflict Resolution Studies and encouraging her to pursue what she cared about. The field was unfamiliar because, as Magi explained, programs like it did not exist back home. Still, she was curious enough to begin. After taking several Human Rights courses at Global College, she found another area that strongly connected with her interests and chose to complete a double major in Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Studies. 

For Magi, Winnipeg made Human Rights feel immediate rather than distant. The city's smaller size made it easier to build relationships and become involved in community work, while its diversity brought a global perspective into a local learning environment. Studying on Treaty 1 territory also mattered to her because the region's histories of harm and resistance shape how human rights are understood today. "Human rights here are not just theory," she said. "You can actually see them in action through community organizations and local initiatives." The Human Rights program gave Magi a foundation that continues to guide how she approaches both study and work. She learned not only to understand human rights, but also to think critically, question assumptions, and avoid accepting issues at face value. She put that learning into practice during her Human Rights practicum with Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW). 

During her placement, she managed social media and communications for IPW's COVID Anti-Racism Campaign, supported the development of the Civic Engagement and Inclusion Sector Table Strategic Plan, co-facilitated consultations and a strategic planning session with newcomer and ethnocultural youth, prepared reports for funders, and assisted with summer student recruitment. Looking back, she says the practicum taught her the importance of meaningful community engagement and strengthened her ability to collaborate with diverse partners, facilitate consultations, communicate with different audiences, and turn community voices into practical recommendations.

Since graduating in June 2023, Magi has continued to build a career that combines research, community engagement, and newcomer settlement. She is currently the Interim Research and Evaluation Coordinator at the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM) while completing the Joint Master's Program in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg. One of the projects she is most passionate about is Addressing the Gaps, a four-year initiative funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The project brings together researchers, community organizations, youth, parents, caregivers, and healthy relationship experts to co-develop programs that help newcomer, refugee, and racialized youth build healthy, respectful, and safe relationships while preventing relationship violence.

 For Magi, the project represents a meaningful opportunity to combine research, community engagement, and youth empowerment while creating programs that reflect the strengths and lived experiences of newcomer families. What Magi remembers most about the Human Rights program is not a single course or assignment, but the relationships she formed. Professors became mentors and role models, and classmates became close friends. She described the program as a small, caring environment where she did not feel like just another student. For someone who had once been unsure whether she belonged or should continue her education, being seen and supported made a lasting difference. 

It was one of the first places where she felt encouraged to pursue something she genuinely cared about, and she says that support continued after graduation. Her advice to current and prospective students is honest about the emotional weight of studying Human Rights. The work can feel heavy when injustice around the world feels close and personal, so she encourages students to build a circle of support, protect their hope, and remember why they began. 

"That reason will keep you grounded when things feel overwhelming," Magi said. "The work you're doing really matters."