Congratulations Dr. Lauryn Oates and SecDev Foundation, 2025 Winners of the Innovation and Impact Awards
At WUSC, we believe in celebrating bold ideas and actions that drive real change. Together with Cooperation Canada and the trustees of the Lewis Perinbam Award, we are pleased to recognize the 2025 recipients of the Innovation and Impact Awards in Honour of Lewis Perinbam.
These awards highlight Canadians and civil society organizations (CSOs) whose creativity and dedication are reshaping international development. The individual award recognizes a Canadian (or someone residing in Canada) whose innovative approach has led to tangible impact, while the organizational award honors a CSO that has delivered exceptional results through forward-thinking initiatives. This year, the spotlight is on bold approaches that protect civic space and strengthen international cooperation, reflecting the power of innovation to create lasting impact globally.
The awards were presented during a virtual ceremony held on February 5, 2026, in the presence of the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State for International Development.
Individual Award Winner: Dr. Lauryn Oates
In a context where civic space for women has been systematically erased, Dr. Lauryn Oates, Executive Director of Right to Learn Afghanistan, co-founded the Darakht-e Danesh Academi, a virtual platform delivering education in local languages for thousands of Afghan women and girls. She recognized early on that technology could be more than a tool for delivery—it could be a powerful space for empowerment, connection and resilience. Dr. Oates is a leading voice in advocacy efforts for improving access to education for women and girls in crisis and conflict situations, advancing this agenda through coalition building, and sustained engagement with the United Nations. She is also part of the global movement pursuing international accountability and justice, in calling for the recognition of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. She supports emerging organizations, rights advocates and educational leaders, helping shape international policy and amplifying Afghan women’s voices on the global stage. In Canada, she has helped build a dynamic volunteer network that mobilizes Canadians in support of human rights initiatives, turning solidarity into meaningful action. From her beginnings as a 14-year-old activist to a 25-year career advancing education and justice, Dr. Oates exemplifies how vision, courage and sustained commitment can create lasting impact—locally and globally.
“I’m honoured by this recognition, which reflects the collective work of my colleagues and collaborators at Right to Learn Afghanistan. Our work affirms education as a vital form of civic action—one that enables participation, agency, and the realization of rights. Inspired by Lewis Perinbam’s example of cooperative effort, I’m encouraged to continue this work alongside partners locally and globally.” – Dr. Lauryn Oates
Organizational Award Winner: SecDev Foundation
SecDev Foundation (SDF) is a Canadian organization recognized for its innovative, community-led approach to strengthening civic engagement in fragile environments and high-risk contexts. SDF works alongside civil society organizations, women, youth, and independent media to help them stay safe and active online— so they can speak out, organize and participate in public life with confidence. By partnering with local actors to build practical digital safety systems, train community leaders, and integrate digital protection into everyday civic work, SDF makes online safety a key part of inclusive participation and the protection of civic space. Through this approach, SDF advances democratic and local leadership, and delivers lasting impact in international cooperation.
Both Dr. Lauryn Oates and SecDev Foundation work exemplify the spirit of the Lewis Perinbam Awards, which have been recognizing innovation and impact for four decades, now highlighting bold approaches that protect civic space and advance international cooperation.
Learn more about Lewis Perinbam and his legacy.