UWinnipeg’s Ibrahim Yousif (BA 26) was born in the village of Melissa, north of Al-Fasher in Darfur, Sudan. At 21, he escaped Sudan and fled to Egypt, beginning a long journey toward safety and stability.
In Egypt, Yousif worked as an accountant for nearly eight years. During that time, he applied to the United Nations refugee program and was accepted for potential resettlement in the United States, Canada, or Australia.
“I chose Canada over the United States and Australia because it was a country that seemed peaceful, less populated, and stable,” he shared.
Yousif arrived in Canada from Egypt as a landed immigrant and settled in Winnipeg, where he has made his home.
He began by enrolling in an ESL program in the city. After completing it, he applied to adult education programs, but faced barriers related to his blindness.
Students and faculty were always willing to help. I never felt alone.
Ibrahim Yousif
Eventually, he was accepted into a Winnipeg adult education program where he completed his high school diploma. He credits the support of his instructors for helping him succeed.
“I remember when a teacher waited with me until my Handi-Transit arrived,” Yousif said. “They gave me a very warm welcome and supported me all the way through to graduation.”
Following high school, Yousif was accepted to the University of Winnipeg, and the Immigrant and Refugee Student Services (IRSS) department played an important role in supporting Yousif.
Arriving at UWinnipeg
“The IRSS was the first point of contact when Yousif ’s applied UWinnipeg,” shared David Mabior Atem (BA 07), Coordinator/Head of the IRSS.
Atem introduced him to UWinnipeg’s Accessibility Services (AS), he met Lara Coombs, the Coordinator of AS, to discuss different supports available, in addition to connecting him with his academic advisors.
In addition to AS, Yousif received orientation and mobility training from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), which helped him navigate campus independently. This included learning key routes between classrooms, services, and accessible entrances.
CNIB also supported the installation of tactile markers on doors across campus, while the AS team provided ongoing academic accommodations and support.
“The warm welcome at the university was such a pleasant surprise,” Yousif said. “Students and faculty were always willing to help. I never felt alone.”
He describes AS as central to his success, helping coordinate exam accommodations, ensuring accessible course materials for his screen reader, and supporting his day-to-day learning needs.
“When I was at AS, I felt like family,” he said. “They made communication easy and consistent. I also met many professors who were kind, patient, and accommodating of my disability.”
Yousif also notes the importance of smaller class sizes and close faculty connections at UWinnipeg, which helped him feel supported throughout his studies.
Yousif graduated this past June with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
“I chose psychology because of my background in crises and war,” he said. “My experiences inspired me. I wanted to better support refugees, newcomers, and people facing crises or conflict.”
Atem notes Yousif ’s success: “He has faced many challenges in life. However, his graduation is powerful and meaningful moment, one that reflects his resilience and perseverance through all the hardships he has endured, from his experiences as a war refugee to the circumstances that led to his disability.”
Now a graduate, Yousif is considering his next steps. He hopes because of his journey at UWinnipeg, it will encourage other students with disabilities to pursue post-secondary education at UWinnipeg.
At UWinnipeg, he found more than academic support, he found a community that helped him thrive, build confidence, and achieve his academic goals.
July is Disability Pride Month, and UWinnipeg celebrates persons who experience disability, their identities and culture, and their positive contributions to society.
