As a refugee fleeing Uganda in 1972, her experience of growing up in Africa and moving from the UK to Canada ingrained the immigrant experience into her psyche. Made in the East and Grown in the West. The last 10 years, Shaheen has worked in poverty alleviation and microfinance, in the developing world. These journeys have taken her to over 25 countries, encountering many Muslim traditions and people of all walks of life who struggle to live and become alive through different traditions of faith and culture.