Scholarships
- Home
- --
- Scholarships
Honouring the Women Who Came Before
Each OMWO bursary is named for a woman whose lifetime of service shaped Ottawa’s Muslim community — and now helps the next generation of students move forward.
Eva Wahab Bursary
Eva Wahab was the first Lebanese Muslim girl born in Ottawa, remembered as a pioneer who dedicated much of her life to community service and the early establishment of the Ottawa Main Mosque. She co-founded the city's first Muslim women's organization, helping define the role of women in the community. OMWO continues to grow this bursary through community donations, supporting students with potential and financial need as they pursue higher education.
Khadija Haffajee Bursary
Khadija Haffajee moved to Ottawa from South Africa in 1966 and spent over 50 years serving the Ottawa–Gatineau Muslim community. In 1997 she became the first woman elected to the Islamic Society of North America's board, later representing Canadian Muslim women at the UN Conference on Women in Beijing. In her honour, OMWO established a bursary at Algonquin College supporting Syrian refugee students in Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Management, Electrician, or Plumbing programs who demonstrate financial need.
Charlotte Lorbeer (Saida Chaudhry) Bursary
Trained as a nurse in Germany, Charlotte came to Canada in 1955 and worked in Ottawa and Gatineau for 22 years, including with mentally challenged children. She supported new immigrants for decades, helped Vietnamese refugees arriving in the 1970s, and authored two books for Muslim children. OMWO established this bursary at Algonquin College to support a female student in the Nursing program, honouring Charlotte's lifelong profession and community service.