Quaid-i-Azam University graduates Hamza Razaq (BSc’21) and Maryam Javed (MPhil’24) have each earned a $10,000 McCall MacBain Regional Award to pursue their next degree in Canada. This scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength, and intellectual curiosity. The funding can be used to enroll at any public university in Canada.

A recent Political Science graduate, Hamza teaches math to students as a Fellow with Teach for Pakistan. He has collaborated with fellow educators and community organizations on two literacy projects.

Hamza founded and leads a local youth welfare organization, where he engaged youth in sports and educational activities. He volunteered with Youth Council Pakistan, teaching peers about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and youth empowerment. He also served as the campus coordinator for the Blood Donation Society of Pakistan and an event organizer with the literary and debating society.

Hamza is applying to master’s programs in education and social sciences. He hopes to gain the skills and knowledge needed to work in civil service, either in Pakistan or abroad.

“Receiving the McCall MacBain Regional Award is both humbling and energizing. It validates my commitment to community service,” said Hamza. “Through my graduate studies, I aim to explore how data-driven public policy can address social inequities. To fellow students: your dedication to positive change matters – take that leap and apply for opportunities that align with your vision.”

Maryam is a visiting faculty member and research supervisor at Rawalpindi Women University. She holds a master’s degree in psychology from Quaid-i-Azam University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Gujrat.

Maryam is the president and co-founder of the Empowerment Foundation for Special Persons, an organization providing resources and support for people with visual impairments. She helped establish an audio library, recording books to make them accessible, and volunteered to train teachers at a school. Maryam has also worked and volunteered as a psychologist, providing counselling to those in need, and mentored students competing in the Hult Prize social entrepreneurship competition. She has presented her academic research at several international conferences, and she has been recognized with various inclusion, excellence, and leadership awards.

Maryam is applying to master’s programs in psychology and social sciences.

The McCall MacBain Scholarships are the result of a landmark C$200 million gift in 2019, then the largest single donation in Canadian history, by John and Marcy McCall MacBain.

Applications will open in June 2025 for the 2026 cohort. More information about the McCall MacBain Scholarships can be found at mccallmacbainscholars.org