LDSS grad grateful to anonymous donors for help with his education

By Mark Ribble

A former Leamington District Secondary School student who came to Leamington as a Syrian refugee five years ago is grateful to the anonymous couple who played a large role in his education.

Mohamad Mohamad was 15 when he came to Canada with his parents and two younger brothers and sister. He spoke little-to-no English when he began his education at LDSS, but says he learned a lot in that first year.

“I did not speak English when I came here,” he said. “My time at LDSS helped me learn the language.”

Mohamad received help from an anonymous source in Grade 10 when they paid for a laptop to help him with his studies.

The Leamington couple met during their time at LDSS and wanted to do something nice for kids at the school who needed help accessing a computer. The school holds a special place in their hearts so they have donated two laptops to students at the school for the past five years.

Mohamad was one of the first recipients of their help when he received the laptop, and when he applied for the University of Windsor he needed to return to LDSS part-time to upgrade his English credits.

Because he was attending that fifth year of high school part-time, he didn’t qualify for a scholarship, but when the anonymous donor couple heard of his plight, they offered to help with tuition.

The University allowed them to help Mohamad with his tuition, for which he is eternally grateful.

“I truly appreciate what they are doing,” he told the Sun last week. “It inspires me to keep moving forward knowing there are people out there who support me in such a way.”

Mohamad Mohamad with his laptop.

Photo submitted

Teacher Lisa Jeffery says that Mohamad is most deserving of the help he’s received.

“Not only is he kind and caring, but he is one of the hardest working students we’ve ever met,” she said. “Mohamad still has no idea who his guardian angels are but I know he appreciates everything they’ve done for him.”

Mohamad is in his first year at the University of Windsor studying political science.

It is his goal to get his undergrad in political science and attend law school, with the end goal to become an immigration lawyer.

“I want to be able to help those immigrants further their education and find a safe place to live,” he said.

As for his own refugee status, today (Wednesday, October 26) he becomes a Canadian citizen — a step in his life he’s thrilled about and proud of — made possible partly through the generosity of a couple he’s never met.