Growing up in Iraq, I witnessed the devastation of war first-hand — a relentless storm that tore through homes, families and dreams. After my father fell victim to crossfire, my mother was left to shoulder the responsibility of guiding me and my four siblings to safety. I knew I wanted to be in the field of health care in some way, because when my dad passed away from a bullet wound, I realized he might have lived if his injury had happened in Canada.
And so, Canada became our promised land, offering the possibility of a new beginning, a chance to rebuild our shattered lives. Our arrival in Canada, however, was far from a smooth transition. We found ourselves strangers in a foreign land, grappling with a language we didn’t understand and customs that felt alien. We had traded the chaos of war for the suffocating silence of isolation.
Amidst this uncertainty, the Cross Cultural Learner Centre in London, Ont., became our sanctuary. Beyond providing us with shelter, it offered us a sense of belonging and understanding that transcended language barriers.
“My work with the Centre is my way of expressing gratitude for the support my family received as newcomers.” —Ghadeir Madlol , BMSc Honors'20, Dentistry Candidate 2025
The volunteers were not merely helpers; they became my friends, my new family, guiding us through the maze of settlement with unwavering compassion. Their kindness ignited my desire to give back.
As a dental trainee, I know first-hand the importance of the profession and want to help spread awareness of what dental care can do in people’s lives.
During first year, I read about a pilot project where dental students provide care to those in need. This, combined with my volunteer experience with the Centre, inspired me to create a screening clinic at the Centre so newcomers don’t get lost in the system. Working with Dr. Abbas Jessani, director of our Community Service Learning (CSL) program, we turned the idea into reality.
In less than three years, the CSL program has addressed the high dental treatment needs of more than 400 equity-deserving community members, including refugees, low-income individuals, those living with HIV, minority genders and other groups in London and southwestern Ontario.
My work with the Centre is my way of expressing gratitude for the support my family received as newcomers, and is a practical way of practising the value of service to our community that has been instilled in me through my dental training here.
