My name is Lulwa Al Hidiq, and I was born in Kuwait to a Palestinian dad and a Lebanese mom. My personal experience has shaped the person I am today. It has defined my character, attributes, and steadfast determination to become a lawyer. The laws in Kuwait do not confer citizenship by birth as is the case in Canada but my family and I lived there, up until the Gulf War when we left because Palestinians were being persecuted and living a normal life was no longer possible. We left for Lebanon where I continued my studies and began to work, but the laws in Lebanon do not treat women as equal to men, and so as a Lebanese woman, my mom could never grant her kids citizenship. So, guess what? I lived a good portion of my early years as a stateless Palestinian up until the time I immigrated to Canada.
Ever since I was a child, I was always labeled a “tomboy” because I was so hyper and active and loved to play outside with the boys instead of doing the “girly” stuff! Fast forward in my life, I started my career as a CPA where I worked for many years in multinational audit firms, namely KPMG, Ernst & Young, and PWC. Even then, I was deemed to be working in a “male” job and was criticized profusely because my peers were working in banks or as teachers, being groomed to become moms, setting stereotypes and unrealistic expectations from a very early age. I actually thought I was the issue for the longest time but thankfully had enough confidence in myself to disregard all this negativity and forged my way forward. Crazy enough, 2 employers – interviewing me for very high-profile jobs told me that they were seeking my exact skills, profile, character, knowledge, etc but wanted a “male” who was exactly like me! Crazy!!! Another employer, again in a multinational firm considered me a “threat” because I was too ambitious. I never understood how that could be, but realized that to advance in my career, would require herculean efforts to forge my way and stand out. I’ve learned to be a fighter, to stand out, to persevere, and not care about what is said; and I guess that’s what made me who I am and what gave me the resilience to do what I do and I am proud of that! Even as a woman, in Canada, I was faced with immense discrimination, but I did not know my rights, something I now ensure my daughter knows and is well educated on. But things were different then and society has evolved somewhat but we can still do so much more as a society, to empower women, especially in countries that do not believe that educating women is a priority.
When girls are educated, their lives, the lives of their children, families, communities, and even their countries advance. Ensuring that all girls and young women receive a quality education is their human right, and a global development priority. Inequity and lack of access to education reduce health, education, social, economic, and leadership prospects while increasing vulnerability to poverty, disease, and exploitation. “Investing in girls’ education transforms communities, countries, and the entire world. Girls who receive an education are less likely to marry young and more likely to lead healthy, productive lives. They earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families. Girls’ education strengthens economies and reduces inequality. It contributes to more stable, resilient societies that give all individuals – including boys and men – the opportunity to fulfill their potential. But education for girls is about more than access to school. It’s also about girls feeling safe in classrooms and supported in the subjects and careers they choose to pursue – including those in which they are often under-represented.” https://
As a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, my work exposed me to so much more in terms of the sufferings of vulnerable and displaced people worldwide in the course of my representation. True enough, my husband and I have sponsored several families, together with other amazing Canadians who wanted to make a difference and the emotional return was immense. We always knew that there was too much suffering in the world and that we couldn’t help everyone but if we could help at least one person, that was better than doing nothing. We have an amazing immigration system in Canada where students can work part-time and can apply for work permits upon graduation and their pathways to permanent residence are many. I decided to put to use my skills as an RCIC and a future lawyer, to work to help others because when we sponsor one girl to come and study in Canada, her employment prospect, her earning powers, and most importantly, her self-confidence is magnified. This is how we plant a seed of hope, by being that “life-line”!
The task is not easy and will require a lot of partnerships with various stakeholders and will require an army of volunteers to make this project work but we are confident that we will be able to do so. This foundation is a collaborative effort with my daughter, Celina Mohamad. We are both immensely excited about this project of ours! Please help us spread the word.
Email: lulwa@life-line.ca