Hanan Awneh, who left the United Arab Emirates with her mother and two brothers for Ottawa about four years ago, received this year's Marion Dewar Scholarship for immigrant and refugee youth.

It's not easy to be a top student in your class when you are new to the country and don't speak much English, explains Hanan, in an interview with Canadian Newcomer. “Back in United Arab Emirates it [the education] was based on memorizing books and stuff, and here it's about understanding what you are learning.”