Building Change Through Collaboration: Professor Ujal Ibrahim Visits YRES

Written by YRES Marketing Coordinator Matthew Best

(Members of the YRES Steeles Office and volunteers taking a photo with Professor Ujal Ibrahim)

On Friday, August 7, 2026, York Region Educational Services (YRES) had the pleasure of welcoming Professor Ujal Ibrahim to our Steeles office for a meaningful visit focused on education, youth empowerment, volunteerism, and community development. During his visit, Professor Ibrahim was introduced to YRES’ LEGO programs and learned how hands-on initiatives can foster creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership among youth. He also learned about broader community initiatives, including our Back to School Drive, which supports students and families in our community.

At the conclusion of his visit, we spoke with Professor Ibrahim about the importance of collaboration between youth, volunteers, educational institutions, nonprofits, governments, and local businesses. I was fascinated by how he emphasized the fact that meaningful and lasting change requires organizations and volunteers to look beyond their individual goals and work together by combining their resources, knowledge, and perspectives.

When asked what advice he would give volunteers seeking to make a lasting impact, Professor Ibrahim encouraged them to seek opportunities to collaborate wherever possible. By connecting with others who share similar goals, volunteers can build relationships, share knowledge, and create solutions that are greater than what any individual could accomplish alone. I feel that oftentimes we overlook the fact that many organizations have the resources and power to create a large difference, and we falsely believe that any change we ourselves as an individual could make alone would be insignificant as a result. With this new perspective, all we need to do is take the initiative to reach out to the companies around us to foster that collaboration. To any companies or businesses reading this, start by connecting with members of your community to create that deeper personal connection that would welcome open collaboration.

Professor Ibrahim’s visit provided YRES with an opportunity to reflect on the importance of partnerships and our continued commitment to empowering youth, supporting families, and strengthening our communities. We are grateful for his time and insights and look forward to continuing to build meaningful connections throughout the community.

(Photo of our Office Manager Adam Yusufzai interviewing Professor Ibrahim at the YRES Steeles Office.)

At YRES, we believe meaningful change starts with people coming together—and collaboration is what turns that change into lasting impact.