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DONORS

24

Percentage of gifts received in 2014/15 from Seneca alumni and volunteers.

FATEMA SOMJI

New alumna contines to give back

Fatema Somji, a Seneca community builder, alumna and donor.
PHOTO: JOANNE RATAJCZAK

GROWING UP IN AN ENTREPRENEURIAL family, Fatema Somji learned how to make the most of an opportunity. Back home in Kenya, Fatema and her siblings started the first ink cartridge recycling business in the country, combining innovation with care for the environment.

As a student heavily engaged in life at Seneca, and recent graduate of the Business Administration - Entrepreneurship and Small Business program, Fatema kept social awareness and community betterment at the forefront of her activities.

Fatema always saw Seneca as a place to learn, apply new skills, and also make a difference. Last year, Fatema founded the Seneca chapter of Enactus, which encourages positive change through entrepreneurial action. This 50-member chapter sold used clothes to generate money for a family in Cambodia, helping them to open their own restaurant. Members called this program “Threads of Empowerment.”

But Fatema's extracurricular activities didn't stop there. She also served as an on-campus ambassador, SMILE mentor, photographer and Seneca Green Citizen. In an effort to improve student life at the College, in 2014/15 she ran successfully as the student representative on the Board of Governors.

In recognition of her mentoring, tutoring, and outstanding service to the College, Fatema won two leadership awards and the Seneca Cup - the highest student honour at Seneca.

Fatema chose to donate part of her financial awards to help peers experiencing financial difficulty, despite that she is working various jobs to support her education.

“There are students who need the money more than me,” says Fatema. “These awards gave me an opportunity to help them. Seneca embraced me from the day I got here, and it was time to give back.”

In her role as a student adviser, Fatema saw student financial need first hand. Occasionally, she would meet students who were considering dropping out because they could not afford tuition fees. She even met students who would go a day or two without eating. Fatema understood their challenges and could relate.

The desire to help people and support her community runs deep for Fatema. She feels that she made the most of her time at Seneca and she wants other students to do the same.

“Even though it's a struggle at times,” she says, “I consider myself to be very fortunate, and I am compelled to give back.”

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