Amira Anshur grew up in Mogadishu, Somalia, during years of civil war, when bombings were frequent and classrooms steadily emptied.
Instead of discouraging her, these challenges strengthened her resolve to excel in school and encourage other young people—especially girls—to continue their education.
“Only around 28 per cent of women in my country are literate.
It’s rare to graduate high school, let alone go off to university,” says Anshur, who will begin her studies at the University of Toronto this fall as a Lester B. Pearson International Student Scholar.
“There were more boys in every single classroom I’ve ever attended.
Especially in the latter years, when the girls would drop out.”
Early Leadership and Passion for Computer Science
At just 13 years old, Amira Anshur stayed after her Qur’an classes to teach her friends how to read Somali.
She led debates, introduced younger students to Python programming, and co-developed a coding curriculum to help students build websites and games,
Making computer science more accessible and engaging.
Amira Anshur is the First in Her Family to Attend University Abroad
Now the first in her immediate family to attend university, Anshur is studying computer science at U of T Scarborough.
She hopes her journey will inspire other Somali girls to stay in school:
“I think it will convince a lot of girls back home to really finish their schooling all the way because they know, ‘Hey, there was a girl before us who got into a good university on a good scholarship.’”
Focus on AI, Sustainability and Equity
With a passion for technology, Anshur plans to specialize in artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability. She hopes to raise awareness about the environmental costs of emerging technologies and ensure that their benefits reach developing nations:
“Soon AI will be in every industry and every classroom.
Making sure it’s not destroying our already fragile ecosystem is my core mission.”
At the same time, she believes AI can transform education in underserved areas:
“It’s going to make education easier in countries where it’s really hard to come across good quality education.”
The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship: A Life-Changing Opportunity
Amira Anshur learned about the prestigious Lester B. Pearson Scholarship through her school principal.
Named after Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Canadian prime minister Lester B. Pearson, the scholarship covers four years of tuition, books, residence and incidental fees for high-achieving international students entering undergraduate programs at U of T.
After a gap year spent teaching, Anshur applied and received the life-changing news during Ramadan:
“I was very happy, but in a state of denial. I did not believe it.”
Amira Anshur Expressed Gratitude for Teachers
Anshur credits her teachers for seeing her potential and guiding her through difficult times.
Especially “teacher Ali,” who helped her catch up in mathematics and physics after months of school missed due to financial hardship.
“Education is a very difficult profession, emotionally, physically, mentally, and I don’t think teachers get the flowers they deserve,” she says.
Now, just as her mentors inspired her, Amira Anshur hopes to motivate a new generation of Somali girls to pursue their educational dreams:
“Going to U of T on a scholarship is breaking barriers.
The sense of hope and the feeling that it’s possible to get there—that’s the main benefit of me going to U of T.”
