Based in Montréal, QC, Canada

A Syrian plastic artist, living in Canada. He studied fine arts at Damascus University, where he obtained a postgraduate degree.
He created his own world which is closer to abstraction influenced by the infinitesimal shapes we see in the microscope or the gigantic shapes in the infinite universe to prove that life forms, no matter how different, are one.
His subjects varied between portraiture, landscape, and abstraction.

Based in Ottawa, ON.

Arabique is a Syrian refugee-led business that targets the integration of Arabic calligraphy with the western designs. The business sheds the light on the importance of identity representation in the western society through the inclusion of cultural art in the clothing industry. With the support of Syrian designers, Arabique was able to introduce a few trendy designs that were sold across Canada, USA, and Europe. The current vision of the business is to build a sold base in North America and then to export the designs to the rest of the world

Based in Calgary, Alberta

Abdulfatah Sabouni is a fourth-generation soap maker. Making soap has been his family business for more than 125 years. Even his last name, Sabouni, means soap maker.

The centuries-old tradition of Aleppo soap making — which uses no chemicals or other additives —involves secret family recipes handed down for generations. In the 11th century, the Crusaders brought Aleppo soap back to Europe, starting a centuries-long love affair with the olive-oil and laurel oil-based soap said to be intensely moisturizing. Aleppo soap is thought to be one of the world’s oldest types of soap, and said to have been the inspiration for the equally famous Marseille soap of France

Based in Toronto, ON.

Sitti (Si-tee), meaning “My Grandmother” in Arabic, is a social enterprise and conscious lifestyle brand committed to the self-reliance of refugee and displaced communities through long-term employment opportunities and skill development training, empowered by an inclusive global economy.

Based in Toronto, ON.

Born in Kabul, Tahmina Saleem holds a BA in Graphics and an MA in Visual Arts from Kabul University. 

Tahmina worked as a Lecturer and an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Kabul University and as a Freelance Documentary Photographer, with special focus on Afghan women. She is an alumna of Sahar Speaks program and a former member of Afghanistan Photographers Association and Advocacy for Youth Network.

Tahmina participated in several exhibitions, such as “Violence Elimination against Women” and “Women Empowerment” in Afghanistan. Her photo stories were exhibited in Iran, Canada, Italy, China and the United States. In 2015, her photo won a special prize in a contest which was held by Paiwandgah in Afghan Impassion Organization. So far, her works are published in websites like, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, News Deeply, Photo Journal, and Yoga Journal. Moreover, she served as a panel of jury at the UNDP photo contest on SDGs. Tahmina also served as a member of the afghan national chess team.

Njamba (John Michal) Koffi, a young refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, is an award-winning community leader, author, a poet, a musician and a public speaker. He is currently completing an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus, in Canada.