Sabra Desai grew up in a working-class family in South Africa under apartheid, limited by her race in where she went to school, where she could shop and who she could socialize with.
Her family saved up just enough to send her brother to school, while Desai had to put her dreams of higher education on hold.
A daunting start, certainly – but these early challenges gave Desai, who moved to Canada in 1970, a hunger to help others, especially in relation to women and education.
Her efforts – including her role as a founder of Interim Place women’s shelter and the South Asian Women’s Centre, and laying the foundation for Humber’s own Human Rights, Equity and Diversity Centre, among many other projects – have now been recognized by the YWCA of Toronto with a prestigious Women of Distinction Award.
She is recognized in the Education category for her commitment to social justice, education and the rights of women, here and abroad, especially for her volunteer work with South African Women for Women (SAWW). Through Desai’s involvement, the organization has raised thousands of dollars in scholarships to support the education and employment of South African women.
“I am grateful for SAWW’s President Carole Adriaans for nominating me and making it possible for me to among this year’s incredible recipients. I am in awe of the group of women who are receiving these awards this year,” says Desai, who has received several other awards for her work. “It’s also a tremendous honour to be included among the women who have come before me.
Desai taught in Humber's School of Social and Community Services for 16 years. She then became manager of Community Outreach and Workforce Development in 2009, where she works to create educational pathways for local youth, Aboriginal peoples, newcomers and marginalized groups.
“I build partnerships within Humber, between schools and with outside organizations,” said Desai. “For example, we created the Humber College Community Partnership Fund (HCCPF) to create pathways to postsecondary education in the community.”
Because of the obstacles she faced growing up, Desai says it is in her DNA to create educational opportunities for others.
“My mother always placed an importance on education, women’s rights, and community service, and encouraged me to come to Canada to start a new life,” she says. “She was the first feminist I knew.”