Nebiyou Timotewos Named McCall MacBain Scholar at McGill After War Displacement

Nebiyou Timotewos, a 21-year-old York honours graduate and community leader, received a fully funded McCall MacBain Scholarship for graduate study at McGill.

The 21-year-old Ethiopian-Canadian community builder, award-winning humanitarian, and York University honours graduate is among 30 scholars selected from over 2,300 universities worldwide to receive Canada’s largest leadership-based graduate scholarship — fully funded at McGill University.. Editor’s Note: This article is a personal account submitted by the author for publication in our community column.. The opinions and claims expressed are solely those of the writer.. TORONTO — Nebiyou Timotewos, a 21-year-old youth leader, humanitarian, and graduating

honours student at York University, has been selected as a McCall MacBain Scholar at McGill University — one of only 30 individuals chosen from a global applicant pool spanning more than 2,300 universities worldwide.. He will pursue a Master of Management in Analytics at McGill, beginning Fall 2026.. The McCall MacBain Scholarships, established with a landmark $200-million gift in 2019, are Canada’s largest leadership-based scholarships for graduate and professional studies.. The fully funded award covers

complete tuition, a monthly living stipend of $2,300, relocation support, mentorship, an interdisciplinary leadership program, and access to a global network of scholars and advisors.. This year, thousands of students applied from across the globe, with only 19 Canadian scholars ultimately selected alongside 11 international scholars.. Timotewos graduates this spring from York University with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), majoring in Global Political Studies with a minor in Human Rights and Equity Studies, and a

Professional Certificate in Public Administration and Law — completing his degree on the Dean’s List, as a member of the President’s Circle of Scholars, and earning the rare distinction of Summa Cum Laude recognition.. A Journey Unlike Any Other Timotewos was born in Hawassa, Ethiopia, on October 18, 2004 — the third of five children.. At age seven, Nebiyou and his family relocated to Yemen, where conflict would soon reshape their lives forever.. When civil

war erupted in Yemen, the family lost loved ones.. Their home and school were bombed.. Despite the escalating violence, Nebiyou’s father and colleagues kept the Ethiopian Embassy operational, ultimately helping more than 6,000 people evacuate to safety.. For this act of extraordinary service, the Timotewos family was honoured with Ethiopia’s National Hero Award in 2015.. The family eventually relocated to Ireland, and then to Canada — where they spent seven months living in a shelter

system.. Despite this, Nebiyou graduated high school with honours from East York Collegiate Institute and went on to build one of the most remarkable student leadership records.. “Canada has been so gracious to me and my family, and I feel a deep sense of duty to continue serving this country and giving back to the communities that have given us so much,” Timotewos has said of his journey.. A Builder of Communities — Not Just

a Student While balancing part-time work, internships, and a wide range of other commitments, Timotewos founded and continues to lead three initiatives: Brothers4Brothers — A mentorship and mental health initiative for Black and racialized young men.. Operating in 8-week cohorts of up to 30 youth, the program has graduated more than 75 participants, many of whom return as peer mentors.. Brothers4Brothers offers healing spaces, leadership development, and long-term community belonging for young men who rarely

see themselves centred in mental health conversations.. Communities Care — A grassroots initiative that has directly supported more than 3,500 vulnerable youth across Canada and over 300 in Ethiopia through school supply drives, hygiene kit distributions, food and drink giveaways, mental health workshops, park clean-ups, and community revitalization efforts.. The initiative has built and maintained over 35 cross-sector partnerships across nonprofit, corporate, academic, and public institutions.. The Kindness Loop — A media and social impact

initiative amplifying everyday acts of kindness, positive news, and community action.. The platform has reached hundreds of thousands of people globally through events, video content, and media partnerships.. Beyond his initiatives, Timotewos serves as a voting member of the TELUS Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Community Board, where he contributes to funding decisions collectively allocating up to $850,000 to youth-focused health and education programs — part of a portfolio that has supported over 11,000 initiatives

through $122 million in grants reaching more than 35 million youth worldwide.. He is also one of 20 Black youth selected nationally for the prestigious 1834 Fellowship, where youth leaders bring their voices and perspectives directly to the federal cabinet and Prime Minister Carney.. At York University, Timotewos serves simultaneously as a University Senator, a President’s Ambassador representing the University President at official national events, and a Student Success Mentor Lead with Black Excellence at

York (BEYU).. He also serves as a Youth Ambassador with Peacebuilders International, advancing restorative justice and community-led conflict resolution, among many other community roles.. He is additionally a member of the YMCA Youth Advisory Committee, where he advises the Board of Directors on issues impacting youth across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.. In the corporate space, Timotewos completed two internships at TELUS — first supporting the Community Investment, Giving and Disaster Relief team, and

later serving as a Wearable Devices Researcher and Consultant with the TELUS Health Product and Innovation team, where he translated market research on health technologies into strategic recommendations for care delivery and product innovation.. He was also selected as Canada’s inaugural representative on the Youth Impact Council, a global platform bringing together youth leaders and world leaders to accelerate solutions in mental health, climate, and social justice.. Additionally, Timotewos is an international best-selling co-author, having

contributed to “Educational Luminaries: Triumphing Over Systemic Hurdles,” published in 2024.. He holds additional certifications from Columbia Business School in Corporate Finance and Stanford University in Statistics.. Recognition Across Nations Timotewos has been recognized with over 28 international leadership awards and some of the most distinguished honours in youth leadership, including: ● Diana Award (London, England, 2024) — awarded to just 200 young people worldwide annually in memory of Princess Diana ● First-ever Youth Community

All-Star in Canada (2024) ● Youngest-ever and first Canadian to win the Global Visionaries Educational Innovation Award (Dallas, USA, 2024) ● International Young Leadership Award (Las Vegas, USA, 2024) ● Youth Entrepreneur of the Year — YMCA & Desjardins (2024) ● Robert J.. Tiffin Leadership Award — one of York University’s most prestigious student honours, with his name engraved in the University Hall of Honour (2025) ● York University Outstanding Student Leadership Award (2025) ●

Black North Initiative Youth Leadership Award, powered by Hydro One (2025) ● Dean’s Circle of Student Scholars and President’s Circle of Scholars — York University (2024, 2025) ● Tom Janes Black Scholar Award (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) ● City of Toronto Community Involvement Medal (2023) In His Own Words “This scholarship is not just about me.. It is about every young person who has ever been told that their background disqualifies them.. It is for

those who grew up with less, who were overlooked, and who came from places the world too often forgets.. I came from Hawassa, Ethiopia, lived through war, and once slept in a shelter in Canada.. I want my story to remind young people around the world that you can build something extraordinary from a small place.. Never let anyone convince you that your dreams are too big, or that where you come from determines where

you can go.. If your dreams do not scare you a little, they may not be big enough.. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to believe in yourself and the audacity to keep moving forward, even when the odds seem impossible.” — Nebiyou Timotewos, McCall MacBain Scholar, McGill University (2026) About the McCall MacBain Scholarship Established with a landmark $200-million gift in 2019, the McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill University are Canada’s largest leadership-based

scholarships for master’s and professional studies.. Scholars receive full tuition coverage, a $2,300 monthly living stipend, relocation funding, mentorship, and participation in an interdisciplinary leadership program.. This year’s cohort was selected from applicants representing more than 2,300 universities across 6 continents.. Learn more at mccallmacbainscholars.org.. Media Contact Nebiyou Timotewos McCall MacBain Scholar Phone: 647-701-9225 Email: [email protected] For media assets, high-resolution photos, and interview requests, please reach out directly.. Editor’s note : Interested in featuring

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