Majd Daqqa - Changemaker Profile

Majd Daqqa (he/him), is a Palestinian-Canadian and current Mount Royal student and staff member with the Institute for Community Prosperity. He is currently enrolled as a general science major with a minor in data science. In this profile, Majd emphasizes the importance of passion projects, community engagement, and incremental change.

Could you tell me about yourself?

I’m a Palestinian who moved to Canada when I was eight years old. My life has had its challenges, but I recognize that, compared to what it could have been, I’ve had a great deal of privilege. My parents' sacrifices and efforts have been a key part of that. As an immigrant, I navigated many common experiences, including determining my identity and reconnecting with my culture. Ultimately, those experiences, like many other people, shaped who I am and my values. That's why I feel a lot of gratitude for the life I got to live.

I did grow up in Fort McMurray, and as part of that deep sense of gratitude I had, I wanted to find ways to give back. I did this by getting involved in my community. So at a young age, I started volunteering and working in the nonprofit sector. I was always seeking these meaningful opportunities; it was something that I was passionate about. My Palestinian identity instilled in me a strong sense of empathy which further drove me to community-based work.  

Eventually, I came to Mount Royal University in pursuit of Biology. Initially, I was driven by an innate curiosity for science but began to feel a lot of uncertainty about my path. I felt disconnected from my degree, especially during Covid. What kept me grounded in continuing my education was my involvement and commitment to meaningful work connected to campus. I felt like that's where I was inspired the most.

Feeling disconnected, I continued to branch off and seek new experiences in hopes of finding clarity. Eventually, I found social innovation, which morphed my academic interests in science and technology along with meaningful work that inspires me the most. 

What does it mean to be a changemaker?

At its core, being a changemaker is a choice—a commitment to taking on the responsibility of invoking change. We live within structured systems, and often there exists a gap between decision-makers and the people affected by their choices. Changemakers are those who step into [this void], bearing the will of the people to spearhead meaningful and profound change. 

What big, beautiful question drives your work?

Two questions ground my work as a changemaker. The first is: What is the change that’s actually needed? It’s important not to get stuck in projecting what you think change should look like. This involves genuinely listening and engaging in dialogue with everyone who will be impacted. The solution doesn’t always come from having the answers; it often comes from creating spaces where this tension can be held, and remaining open to the possibility that something new might emerge. The second question I ask is: Are people ready for this change? Throughout my degree, I’ve participated in various committees and clubs, where many amazing ideas surface. However, having great ideas doesn’t necessarily mean that people are prepared to embrace them. It requires stepping back to recognize that perhaps the problem lies not in the idea itself, but in the readiness of the community to engage with that change.

How do you embody changemaking in your work?

I embody changemaking in my work through the use of perspectives, principles, and changemaking tools within the ‘lenses’ that I have fostered. I call them lenses because they are approaches that I use to see and think about my work. I initially began developing these lenses as a by-product of the spaces I found myself in. The exposure to different perspectives allowed me to expand my own thinking; but, it all came together for me when I recognized that the work I did in sustainability, social innovation, and EDI&A should not be so isolated from other things I was involved in. I recognized the collective responsibility present and wanted to integrate their principles in all my work. 

This practice not only deepens my understanding but also allows me to connect my efforts with the broader context of changemaking.

How do you see changemaking happening at Mount Royal University?

The Changemaking I see at MRU is driven by brave students, staff, and faculty who step-up to advocate for important issues. There's been significant progress, thanks to those, dedicating their time and energy to address these issues. You see this in the formation of EDI committees and student clubs which unify changemakers .Last year, we worked on the Student Changemaker Network, which was amazing because I got to see so many passionate students from all around campus come together.