May 22, 2026: Four outstanding local students sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Ottawa have officially arrived at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program for a weekend of leadership development, teamwork, communication, personal growth, and new friendships. Bushra Alaje, Abdinasir “Abdi” Hassan, Pal Desai, and Yoanna Peng will join students from across the region for Rotary’s premier youth leadership experience running from Friday, May 22 to Sunday, May 24.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Ottawa, Bushra, Abdi, Pal, and Yoanna each bring unique experiences, perspectives, and goals to the program.
Bushra Alaje, who came to Canada from Syria as a child refugee, spoke passionately during her interview about the importance of communication, understanding, and education. “If we talk, resort to words over guns, we could solve so many problems,” she shared. Bushra hopes to develop the skills needed to help create positive change in the world and advocate for greater opportunity and understanding.
Abdinasir “Abdi” Hassan has already accumulated more than 2,000 volunteer hours through youth mentorship, community programming, and youth advisory work. Currently working as a Junior Youth Worker with BGCO, Abdi described leadership as “listening, staying grounded in your values, and being willing to step up when it matters.” He hopes RYLA will challenge him to continue growing as a leader and community advocate.
Pal Desai, a Grade 10 pre-IB student and executive member of her school’s Interact Club, is involved in tutoring, dance, and community engagement activities. During her interview, Pal emphasized her interest in strengthening her communication and leadership abilities so she can better support and inspire others.
Yoanna Peng, a Grade 10 French immersion pre-IB student, hockey coach, sales advisor at Sportchek, and member of her school mental health council, reflected thoughtfully on the value of stepping outside her comfort zone. In the future, she wishes to pursue a career in the legal field, believing “that a judicial process where everyone is treated as equal is a cornerstone of justice will set the structure of society,” and she hopes RYLA will help her become more confident in leadership settings while continuing to grow her ability to motivate and connect with others in the hopes of advocating for a fair justice system where everyone is treated equally.
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa congratulates Bushra, Abdi, Pal, and Yoanna on being selected and wishes them an outstanding RYLA experience. We look forward to hearing about the ideas, friendships, and leadership skills they bring back to our community.
Published on: May 22, 2026
Prepared by: Erin Ueffing