2005 New Pioneers Awards SfCarchive
Channel: SkillsforchangeArchive SfC
Date: 02/01/2010

Sabra Desai (Community Service)

Raised in apartheid South Africa, Sabra Desai proved her mettle after arriving in Canada at the age of 20 and being told that a university education was not for her. This was Toronto in 1970. Unwilling to accept this decision, Sabra persisted in researching options and learned about the programs for mature students offered by the University of Toronto.

Studying part-time while working to support herself, Sabra received a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree and went on to complete her Masters.

Sabra has worked in the social services sector in various positions and for the past 12 years, been a faculty member at Humber College teaching Sociology, Social Psychology and Counselling. She is an avid activist/educator experienced in issues related to skin colour racism and equity in Canada and overseas. She has authored research on issues of immigrant settlement, hidden in-equity in employment opportunities and education.
 
Sabra was part of a group of women who, together with the Peel Social Planning Council, initiated the first shelter - Interim Place - for women and children facing violence. She is a founding member of the South Asian Womens Centre and a past chair of the Cross Cultural Communications Centre and vice chair of Women in Transition. She initiated the Critical Incident Response Effort with the Federation of Muslim Women to cope with the fallout from the events of 9/11.

During summer vacations and a sabbatical, Sabra worked with individuals infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and is currently helping to establish a holistic health and education program in South Africa.

Sabra received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the Humber Institute for Technology and Advanced Learning and the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence Award in 2004. She was awarded the South African Women for Womens Human Rights Award in 2002.