This Article was originally published in The Times of Canada.
Celebrating women and their contributions, the Dawoodi Bohra community across Canada hosted a national virtual event spotlighting six inspiring young female entrepreneurs, aged 12 to 16, from cities including Ottawa, Mississauga, Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The event highlighted the limitless potential of young women and fostered strategic dialogue on Canada’s long-term economic prosperity.
The event opened with a special recorded message from the Honorable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth, who emphasized that national prosperity depends on the active participation of women and girls:
Rooted in the theme “Give to Gain,” the gathering was hosted by a national outreach team including Jumana Mascati of Vancouver and Zainab Khorakiwala of Mississauga. The program drew parallels between modern business leadership and historic Islamic figures such as the Prophet Mohammed’s consort Maulatuna Khadija, a respected and accomplished entrepreneur, and Queen Arwa of Yemen, framing the girls’ ventures as a modern extension of a long-standing tradition of female excellence and community service.
Six young innovators presented their business models, navigating topics from supply chain management to market pricing:
- Zahra Daudji (Ottawa): Founder of Ziza, a handcrafted jewelry brand.
- Sarrah Shakir (Vancouver): Creative mind behind Sarrah’s Collection, specializing in crochet and resin art.
- Seher Rampurawala (Markham): Founder of Empower Ed and Tech for Seniors, focused on STEM education and digital literacy for the elderly.
- Rabab & Shirin (Mississauga): Co-founders of Key to Glow, a handmade self-care line.
- Batool Mustansir (Toronto): Founder of It’s So Lasagna, a community-based culinary venture.
- Sakina Hassanali (Edmonton): Owner of Sukoon Bakes, specializing in handcrafted artisanal treats.
During the presentations, the participants shared insights into their growth mindsets. Seher Rampurawala noted that entrepreneurship is about “identifying needs in society and choosing to act,” while Rabab and Shirin reflected on the advantage of starting early, stating that “being young just means you have more time to learn.” Zahra Daudji discussed the learning curve of pricing, emphasizing that value is found not just in materials, but in the time and effort of the creator.
A panel of distinguished guests joined the conversation to discuss the broader economic implications of these ventures. Amna Shah, MLA for Surrey–City Centre, highlighted the practical necessity of such mentorship. “It just makes economic sense for young girls and women to participate,” Shah remarked. “It benefits families. It benefits our communities. And as a government MLA, we have to figure out how to encourage it.”
Thu Parmar, Edmonton City Councillor, spoke to the local impact of small businesses, noting that they make up over 90% of Edmonton’s economy. She praised the Dawoodi Bohras of Canada for “giving these girls a stage and a voice” at a critical developmental age: “You’re giving them an opportunity to share and to get feedback as well. There is leadership that is built in from a very young age. I’ve heard a lot of people had their first go just at community markets.”
The panel also featured Geetanjli Sharma, Editor-in-Chief of The Times of Canada, who discussed the media’s role in framing young women as the next generation of innovators, and Zahra Dawoodi, a Calgary entrepreneur who oversees a network of 32 educators, reinforcing the importance of community networks in building business confidence.
As April progresses, the Dawoodi Bohras of Canada remain committed to the themes of the virtual event, recognizing that the skills developed by these young women—problem-solving, initiative, and teamwork—are the very attributes that will define Canada’s future leadership. By investing in these opportunities today, the community continues to build a more inclusive and prosperous landscape for all.