Yasna Taieb

Yasna Taieb is one of AYEDI’s new Program Directors! In this role, she will be assisting with the coordination and implementation of AYEDI’s exciting Afghan Youth Mentorship Program, Afghan Community Impact Incubator, and upcoming programs. Yasna attended McMaster University for Honours Life Sciences, however two years into her degree, decided to pursue her lifelong goal of becoming an airline pilot. She enrolled into an accelerated program through the Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre in conjunction with the Conestoga Institute of Technology and is nearing completion of her required licenses. Upon completion, she plans to complete her degree and continue with graduate studies.

While being a student pilot, Yasna is a Canadian Forces Reservist working in the Cadet Instructor Cadre as a professional development coach for youth aged 12-19 years old in the Royal Canadian Air Cadet Program. During the year, she teaches Ground School to students applying for their Glider and Private Pilot Licenses, and during the summers is employed at Canadian Forces Base Trenton where she helps lead the Aviation courses for more than 200 youth from across Ontario.

AYEDI’s mission aligns with Yasna’s – she aims to help prepare first and second generation Afghan-Canadian youth for the real world through interview preparation, professional development and field-specific mentorship. Through sharing her experience and passion for change with AYEDI and simultaneously fostering an inclusive and fun environment for youth to develop their skills, Yasna strives to help break the ceilings that were made to limit our Afghan youth.

Yasna loves travelling and has a long bucket list that she is excited to continue working towards. She continuously contributes to the aviation and aerospace industry on a national and international scale, and is very excited to work with AYEDI and help develop our Afghan youth of tomorrow!