“In a divided world, connection isn’t optional, it’s how we create change.”

Inaara Ebrahim

TOP 30 UNDER 30 HONOUREE | 2026

About

PROFILE SNAPSHOT

AGE: 24

PRONOUNS: She/Her

HOMETOWN: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

CURRENT RESIDENCE: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

ORGANIZATIONS:

Global Encounters Internships Programmes
British Psychological Association
Global Mental Health Action Network

GLOBAL IMPACT FOCUS (SDGs)

I am most passionate about:

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

For me, the most important issue is mental health and well-being, a passion I have carried since high school into every stage of my life. I am motivated by the belief that mental health is deeply interconnected with social, cultural, and environmental factors; meaningful change occurs when people, systems, and communities come together. During my Psychology studies, I furthered this interest through research and practice, serving as an ambassador and outreach coordinator for the South Asian Youth Mental Health Association to reduce stigma within South Asian communities. Additionally, my time as a research assistant at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute reinforced the vital connection between evidence-based research, lived experience, and accessible community support.

Following graduation, I began an international internship with the Aga Khan Foundation as a climate resilience analyst. While my role focused on environmental issues, I intentionally connected climate action with my commitment to mental health, specifically exploring the psychological effects of environmental instability and climate anxiety on vulnerable populations. This work deepened my understanding of how environmental and mental well-being are closely linked through Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action and community resilience. Most recently, as an intern with the Global Encounters Internship Programme in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, I researched local mental health systems, focusing on culturally sensitive, community-based care. This experience highlighted the necessity of culturally grounded solutions that prioritize trust, connection, and local context.

Across all of my work, I am driven by the idea that lasting change comes from bridging disciplines, cultures, and communities. My projects align most closely with the Sustainable Development Goals for Good Health and Well-Being and Climate Action. Ultimately, I am guided by a commitment to harnessing connection as a fundamental tool for creating meaningful, sustainable impact.

What are the ways in which you curate connection?

One of the main ways I curate connection is through my involvement with the Global Encounters Internship Programme, which brings together Ismaili youth for opportunities with Aga Khan Development Network agencies across India, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan. This work reflects my belief that meaningful connections across cultures and borders are essential for building community and creating lasting change. My first experience was as a participant in the summer of 2025; living and working alongside youth from diverse backgrounds challenged my assumptions and deepened my understanding of shared learning, humility, and mutual respect.

I am now involved on the administrative side of the programme, supporting coordination, communication, and the participant experience. In this role, I aim to foster environments where young people feel supported, connected, and accountable to the communities they serve, alongside stakeholders like global volunteers and programme partners. When working with communities, I believe the voices and needs of members must always come first, as my individual passion is secondary to listening and responding to lived experiences.

This approach was reinforced during my work supporting mental health research in Kyrgyzstan. By listening closely to community priorities, I saw how centring others’ experiences leads to stronger, more sustainable outcomes and transformed how I approach collaborative, community-based work

What role will connection play in your future work?

Connection will play a central role in my future work because it is the foundation of meaningful development. Effective development requires a genuine understanding of communities, which comes from listening, building trust, and valuing local knowledge. When community perspectives and lived experiences are placed at the center, solutions become more relevant, respectful, and impactful. Lasting change depends on collective effort, as development is not an individual pursuit but requires collaboration across cultures, disciplines, and institutions. Through partnerships, ideas are exchanged, and responsibilities are shared, ensuring stronger outcomes and community ownership. Working as a team ensures that initiatives can be sustained over time by the communities involved. Looking ahead, sustainable and inclusive development will be driven by cooperation and shared responsibility. Strong relationships between community members and practitioners help amplify diverse voices and reduce power imbalances. Meaningful impact is created through collective action grounded in trust, collaboration, and a commitment to serving one another.

During her time in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Inaara operated out of the University of Central Asia’s central office to conduct vital mental health research with the Aga Khan Health Services. This work allowed her to bridge the gap between academic research and lived experience, focusing on developing culturally grounded and community-based approaches to care.

Taking her commitment to climate action directly into the field, Inaara helped organize and participate in a tree-planting initiative at the Aga Khan Academy in Nairobi, Kenya

. This event, part of her internship with the Aga Khan Foundation, served as a powerful intersection of her work in environmental resilience and her dedication to fostering community well-being