This spring marked a milestone year in the making for Jusoor scholar Sara Aljaafari, who graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with a Bachelor of Science in Data Science and stepped directly into a full-time career in analytics working in a multinational digital infrastructure company.
Sara's path to this moment stretches from Syria to Lebanon and, ultimately, to Canada, where she arrived through a scholarship program supported by Jusoor and International Students Overcoming War (ISOW). Her graduation in Spring 2026 caps an academic journey shaped by a long-standing passion for both technology and business.
A Passion That Started Early
Sara was forced to flee Syria to Lebanon with her family when she was just eight years old. In the ten years she lived in displacement in Lebanon, her family focused on her and her sisters’ education while dealing with the legal realities of living as Syrians in Lebanon, including constraints on employment and navigation of bureaucracy.
Sara's interest in her field predates her university years. Before ever setting foot on campus, she was teaching herself programming languages and reading about the business world; curiosities that eventually led her to Data Science, a major that brought together her interests in computer science, data analysis, and entrepreneurship.
That same drive extended well beyond the classroom. In Lebanon, Sara volunteered extensively in her community: tutoring refugee children, supporting families affected by the Beirut port explosion, and contributing to initiatives serving low-income families. Along the way, she built skills in management, sales, and marketing through hands-on roles at an organic products store, a donation center, and in customer-facing positions.
Sara's leadership extended into her university community throughout her final years at Laurier. In spring 2025, she represented the Data Science program and Jusoor at the Laurier Open House, leading the booth, and helped organise two MESA cultural events, Suhoor Night and Love Letter to the Levant. That same semester, she independently produced a short documentary capturing scholars' experiences for ISOW, contributed to the funding pitch that secured support for women from Gaza, and served on the selection committee for ISOW's incoming cohort. She continued this involvement into the fall, returning as a Data Science Ambassador at Laurier's next Open House and working with ISOW on partnership-building efforts, including outreach to organisations like the Rotary Club. Alongside her studies, she has also worked since September 2024 as a Project Assistant with Levant Canada, helping organise community events for newcomers.
From Internship to Full-Time Career
During her studies, Sara completed a one-year internship as a Working Analysts intern at Equinix, where she worked on people analytics projects spanning dashboard development, reporting automation, workforce insights, employee listening initiatives, attrition forecasting, and research on AI agents and their applications in business processes. During her internship, Sara was also named one of three winners in Equinix's internal "Shark Tank"- style innovation challenge, where employees pitch projects to company leadership. She presented a project she had worked on throughout her internship, walking judges through the problem, her approach, and the impact of her work, and was recognised for the quality of the solution and the clarity of her presentation.
Her work spoke for itself. Following graduation, Equinix offered Sara a full-time position as a Reporting and Analytics Advisor, and the first chapter of a career she plans to build on. Sara hopes to continue strengthening her industry expertise in analytics before eventually pursuing graduate studies.
In her own words:
"It's been a busy and exciting few months overall. I also had the opportunity to share my story in interviews with both Wilfrid Laurier University and CBC, reflecting on my journey from Syria to Lebanon and eventually to Canada, as well as the role education and the support from Jusoor and ISOW played in helping me get to where I am today. It was a really meaningful experience. Looking back, it's incredible to think about how far this journey has come. From arriving in Canada through the scholarship program to graduating and beginning my career, I truly appreciate all the support Jusoor has provided along the way. It has made a meaningful difference in helping me reach this milestone. Thank you again for everything you and the team have done for me over the years. I genuinely wouldn't be where I am today without your support."
Looking Ahead
Sara's story is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when talent meets opportunity. From self-taught programmer to data science graduate to analytics professional, her journey reflects the resilience and ambition of Syrian youth—and the lasting impact of the community that believed in her.
