“Stand up strongly, speak out proudly, and let your resilience inspire change.”

Amani El-Halabi

2025 Top 30 Under 30

About

 

AGE: 26

PRONOUNS: She/Her

HOMETOWN: Yanta, Lebanon

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Edmonton, AB

ORGANIZATIONS:

    • RiseUp Society

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

I am most passionate about:

What specific issue(s) are you working to address, and what motivates you to do so?

I am focused on addressing gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence (IPV), particularly the mental health impacts on survivors of this abuse. These forms of violence disproportionately affect women, leading to long-lasting trauma that hinders their ability to reclaim control over their lives. My work aims to provide trauma-informed mental health support to help survivors heal emotionally, regain their agency, and break free from the cycles of violence. I am deeply driven by personal and professional experiences, having grown up in remote rural areas of Canada where I observed the immense challenges in accessing mental health resources. In these communities, individuals grappled with violence, mental health challenges, and trauma without adequate support, further inspiring my commitment to addressing gaps in mental health care, particularly for marginalized individuals experiencing abuse.

Professionally, I’ve seen firsthand how IPV and GBV create profound psychological effects that survivors carry long after the violence ends. Many women feel powerless, isolated, and unable to move forward. My goal is to cultivate a space where survivors can heal safely, regain a sense of control, and rebuild their lives. Through my counseling work at RiseUp Society, I’ve seen how trauma-informed care can help survivors regain their sense of self-worth and begin the process of emotional recovery. The need for support for women experiencing violence is urgent both locally and internationally. In Canada, I’ve worked closely with women affected by IPV, helping them access essential resources for healing. My experience in Lebanon with displaced women and refugees highlighted the additional challenges they face, such as cultural barriers and limited access to services. Through collaboration with local and international NGOs, I provided trauma counseling and psychosocial support to survivors of GBV and displacement. These experiences have deepened my commitment to breaking down the barriers—whether cultural, logistical, or socio-economical—that prevent women from accessing the care and resources they need to heal, regardless of where they live.

What is your foundation?

My foundation is shaped by personal experiences, community values, and a strong commitment to justice and empowerment; this began during my early lived experiences in isolated rural areas where there is very minimal mental health support, and extreme stigma surrounding it. Observing this lack of support for those facing trauma deeply impacted me and sparked my desire to pursue a career where I could help others who face similar barriers. This realization was further solidified by my early exposure to the realities of underserved communities—both in Canada and abroad—which gave me a clearer understanding of the systemic challenges that prevent many from accessing the care they need. As I worked with survivors of IPV and GBV, I saw firsthand the devastating effects of trauma and how women are often forced to navigate their recovery with limited resources. The resilience I’ve witnessed in survivors, combined with my professional experiences in Lebanon and at RiseUp Society, has deepened my understanding of the transformative power of access to mental health care. These experiences, along with my own personal struggles, have fueled my belief that every individual deserves the support they need to heal and thrive, no matter their background.

What is your vision for the future?

My vision for the future is a world where every woman, regardless of her background or geographic location, has access to the resources and support needed to heal from trauma and live free from violence. I envision a society where gender equality is not just an ideal but a reality, and where survivors of IPV and GBV are empowered to reclaim their lives with dignity, strength, and agency. In the future, I see myself helping to build a global network of support for women, starting with the creation of an NGO in Lebanon that focuses on providing accessible mental health services for survivors of GBV. I aspire to create programs that integrate trauma-informed care and prevention strategies, which will not only address immediate needs but also work to dismantle the systemic structures that perpetuate violence. The work I am doing today—providing mental health support, advocating for accessible resources, and collaborating with local and international organizations—aligns directly with this vision. Each step I take to support women in their healing process and ensure their voices are heard contributes to my vision of the kind of world I hope to live in one day. By amplifying the voices of marginalized women and empowering them to regain control over their lives, I am helping lay the groundwork for long-lasting social change.

Participating at a demonstration in Edmonton during the October 17 Lebanese Revolution. Many of the people on the front lines during the protests in Lebanon were women. Their presence in the revolution was substantial, and they participated in every aspect of the demonstrations. Women from all social backgrounds, ages, and professions joined the protests, from students to workers to mothers. This unity across gender lines was one of the revolution’s defining features.

Participated in a Womens race in a rural village in the middle east.
Actively providing mental health services to survivors of Intimate Partner Violence at Riseup Society.

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