Saifullah Muhammad is an energetic young activist who has spent years advocating for the refugees and persecuted minorities. He is now perusing his master’s degree in ‘Peace and Conflict Studies’ at the University of Waterloo.

Born in Myanmar, raised and educated in a large refugee camp in Bangladesh, Saifullah has called Kitchener home since 2016, where he got opportunity at the Conestoga College to continue his study in journalism. He graduated from the journalism program with distinctions and Dean Honour list. He has the distinction of being the very first Rohingya to be professionally trained as a journalist.

During his studies at the Conestoga College, he helped found an organization the ‘Canadian Rohingya Development Initiative’ to expose the Rohingya genocide to the world stage and to create an innovative educational platform for the refugee youths all over the world. Currently, he serves as an executive director of the organization. He has been an instrumental figure in his community to lobby with the government of Canada in advocating the Rohingya issue. Saifullah regularly attends and shares panels at local and international conferences, academic seminars and events. He often appears on Canadian and international televisions, newspapers and writes Op-Eds. He has been invited to speak at the House of Commons, the UN General Assembly and different universities of the world to speak on the Rohingya genocide and perspective of the refugee life.

Before arriving to Canada, he worked as a teacher in three different schools in Malaysia and worked as a reporter for various news agencies including the first Rohingya news agency Kaladan Press Network, Rohingya Vision, Reuters, AFP, New York Times and different local media in Malaysia.

Saifullah currently works as an assistance researcher in collaboration with the UNHCR Canada and St. Francis Xavier University, on the social behavior of Rohingya refugee children in India, Canada and Bangladesh.

As someone who understands the value of education he is working on some educational projects with different universities and colleges of Canada for scholarships and innovative online education programs for the refugee youths. 

Saifullah’s unique background as a refugee advocate, a professional journalist and a peace and conflict studies student and dedication to public service has inspired to many institutions, organizations and individuals to invite him speaks in various events including United Nations and he has been awarded “The Most Dedicated Journalist of the Year” by Waterloo Region Record in 2019, Alumni of Distinction Award 2021 – Conestoga College and nominated for 2021 Premier Award of Ontario government by the Conestoga college.