Our Team
Sidra Treehouse is committed to ensuring that newcomer and refugee children feel a sense of community in their new city. Our team is made up of students and workers who dedicate their spare time to help these kids—and love doing it.
Mariam
Aly
Co-Director
Mariam Aly founded Sidra Treehouse in 2016, when she was 17. The UOttawa political science student says the kids are the funniest humans she’s ever met, and she wants to help them manage their hybrid identities as new Canadians. She has been learning American Sign Language in her spare time.
Momin
Janjua
Co-Director
Momin Janjua joined our team in 2019. As an immigrant himself, he knows how important Sidra Treehouse’s mission is. He enjoys helping newcomer children grow more confident in their new home and being a role model for them. The public servant is known as a master of puns and dad jokes.
Safia
Hassan
Lead, Outreach & Engagement
Safia Hassan has been with Sidra Treehouse since 2019. She loves seeing her mentees grow and gain confidence as they gain skills or understand new concepts. The UOtttawa biomedical science student also enjoys hiking and is a self-proclaimed gardening enthusiast.
Soumaya
Marhnouj
Special Events Coordinator
Soumaya joined Sidra Treehouse in 2019. The UOttawa conflict studies and human rights student says that learning goes both ways at their weekly sessions: they teach the kids, but the kids also teach them. She likes to watch the sky in her free time.
Juman Asmar
Co-Lead, Programming
Juman Asmar has been with Sidra Treehouse in 2018. The UOttawa biomedical science student is very proud of her mentees and loves when they tell her abouttheir accomplishments. Outside of the program, she enjoys making pills at the pharmacy she works at.
Anhia
Lauzon
Co-Lead, Programming
Anhia Lauzon joined our team in 2019. The UOttawa conflict studies and human rights student thinks Sidra Treehouse’s kids can learn problem solving, patience, emotional intelligence and more through art. She loves to thrift, sew, style and practice ethical consumerism.
Our Mentors
Sidra Treehouse could not run without the help of our amazing mentors. They are the newcomer and refugee children’s big brothers and sisters and help them achieve their full potential.
