Our Origin Story
Our group initially formed during the course SOWK 310 (Critical Analysis of Social Work Theories and Practice), taught by Professor Maimuna Khan in fall 2025 at the University of Calgary. We were tasked to critically analyze a social issue using social work theory. United by our individual support for a Free Palestine and our shared academic interest in what Palestine teaches us about the world, we chose the topic of Palestinian liberation and its suppression in Canada. Following our final presentation in SOWK 310, Professor Khan supported us in developing this work and submitting our analysis to social work conferences and relevant journals. We received further faculty support to advance this work during SOWK 392 (Community-Engaged Practicum and Integration) in Winter 2026.
About
Our VaLUES
As social work students, our group values are informed by the CASW Code of Ethics through a decolonial lens. We recognize that true ethical practice requires addressing the root systems of colonialism and oppression.
Our work prioritizes:
– Indigenous and Palestinian self-determination
as interconnected struggles for liberation.
–community-driven informed consent that honours agency
and proactive harm prevention rather than mere mitigation.
–continuous critical examination of our positionalities and complicity.
As social work students dedicated to decolonial and social justice efforts, we commit to actively confronting systemic injustices and transforming the mechanisms of colonialism and oppression in our practice and communities
Who We Are
Aaya Matharu
She/Her
Aaya is a dedicated BSW student at the University of Calgary, building on an academic foundation that includes a bachelor’s degree in social development from the University of Waterloo. Her educational background is further enriched by studies in both child and youth care and media, giving her an interdisciplinary perspective that informs her approach to social justice and community advocacy.
Currently residing in West Asia as a project manager, Aaya’s professional identity is rooted in a deep commitment to decolonial and anti-colonial social work principles. This passion drives her advocacy for vulnerable communities across the Southwest Asian and North Africa (SWANA) region, always approached through the lens of cultural humility. Her work reflects the understanding that meaningful support must come from genuine respect, cultural understanding, and acknowledgment of diverse historical experiences and systemic challenges.
Looking ahead, Aaya plans to pursue a master’s degree with a specialization in mental health counselling. She aims to develop a wholistic therapeutic approach that integrates physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being while authentically incorporating Indigenous knowledge.
Her vision includes maintaining a strong commitment to anti-oppressive frameworks that challenge systemic inequities, ultimately paving the way for more equitable mental health care for all communities. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, reading and playing guitar; she also has one charismatic kitty, Lily!
Tugce Bozalioglu
She/Her
Tugce spent most of her life in West Asia, where she earned her MA and a PhD in History. As a lifelong learner, she later began a new chapter in her academic journey and earned a BA in Psychology in Canada, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) at the University of Calgary. With more than a decade of experience in post-secondary education across diverse roles, her work has been shaped by a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, advocacy, and community. As a first- generation settler on Treaty 7 Territory, she brings lived insight into subtle racism and the ongoing devaluation of prior personal and professional backgrounds. Her personal journey led her toward social work and continues to inform her anti-racist, decolonial, anti-oppressive and feminist lens. Tugce hopes to continue work across education, community and social justice. Alongside school and work, she is an Ebru enthusiast drawn to its healing and meditative qualities, with her artwork featured in gallery exhibitions.
Lindsay Morris
She/Her
Lindsay is a yoga teacher, retreat facilitator, former public servant, and social worker in training. She currently lives on unceded, unsurrendered, stolen, and continually occupied Territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, in Ottawa, Ontario, and is the descendant of white settlers and Danish immigrants. Her passion for building a better world started from a young age, ranging from developing a recycling program in her elementary school to organizing a Rwandan genocide commemoration event at her high school. This led her to study International Development at the University of Guelph, where she took classes and supported research projects that developed her understanding of Indigenous history in Canada and the impacts of colonialism across the globe.
After completing her combined Master’s in Dance, which included a project focused on community-building through dance for children orphaned by Ebola in Sierra Leone, and MBA in Social Sector Management through York University in 2016, she spent several years supporting immigrants and refugees through Windmill Microlending, as they achieved their educational equivalency in Canada. Her career with the federal government included unblocking barriers to enable the arrival of over 50,000 Afghans through the Afghan Resettlement Initiative and contributing to the development of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s Crisis Response Framework.
She looks forward to transitioning back to direct client service with newcomers, and intends to build a practice that weaves together trauma-informed and culturally-appropriate approaches to client support, along with decolonial advocacy at the systemic level. When she’s not working or studying, you might find Lindsay riding her bike or dancing with a 30+ dance crew.
Noni Nabors
She/Her
Noni brings nearly a decade of operations, project management, community engagement, and anti-violence work to her Bachelor’s of Social Work program. She believes there are better, more just, and sustainable ways of co-existing. This belief has led to roles with Hey Neighbour Collective, Simon Fraser University Centre for Dialogue, Salal Sexual Violence Support Center, and the University of British Columbia Centre for Sustainable Food Systems. Noni has a Bachelor of Science in Global Resource Systems from UBC and is pursuing a Leadership Certificate from SFU. She currently lives on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and is a multigenerational white settler with Irish ancestry raised on Treaty 7 territory. Outside of work and school, you can find her swimming, diving, and lounging at any local watering hole!
Tys Burger
She/They
Tys is a student in the University of Calgary’s Bachelor of Social Work program. Her background includes a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Concordia University and a work history in 2SLGBTQ+ and disability justice. Tys is committed to resisting dominant and unjust systems of power through art practices, academic work and everyday interactions. She currently resides in Treaty 7 territory with her roommates and two cats, Kid and Lain.