Yara Banat is an undergraduate student at Western University with interests in healthcare, research, community advocacy, and supporting diverse communities. Her experiences span research, healthcare, youth work, and community involvement. She has worked as a Honeybee Field Research Assistant at Western University and supported qualitative research as a Transcript Analysis Assistant. She has also volunteered in a pharmacy and long-term care setting, worked as a camp counsellor, and tutored newcomer students in English through London Public Library.

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Her interest in advocacy and community engagement has also grown through her involvement with Islamic Relief Canada. As a member of the London Regional Team, she helps with fundraising, outreach, and community events. She has also served as an Advocacy Manager with the Palestinian Cultural Club at Western, where she supported awareness initiatives and advocacy events.

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Through these experiences, Yara has developed a strong interest in how culture, identity, community, and access to support shape people’s experiences and well-being. Through her involvement with the YSMENA research program, she hopes to continue building her understanding of the social and cultural factors affecting MENA communities in Canada while growing her experience in community-based research and advocacy.