DESI FORUM
ONTARIO HONOURS YOUNG VOLUNTEERS
Mehak Dhaliwal established Caledon’s first all-girls high school robotics team and led Central Peel Secondary School to the FIRST Robotics International Championship in 2019.
Ontario honoured 24 remarkable young people with the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers for 2021 and 2022.
This program represents the highest honour a young person between the ages of 15 and 24 can achieve for outstanding volunteer contributions to their communities and province.
2021 recipients include:
Kanish Baskaran, Stouffville. Kanish co-founded Health for Homeless after learning about the barriers to healthcare individuals living on the street face. His pro-bono organization has raised almost $3,000 to provide care kits to families and has grown to provide conferences, workshops, and a podcast, A Hidden Epidemic, under Kanish’s steadfast leadership. He is now a medical student at the University of Toronto, passionate about addressing the social and biomedical facets shaping the health of homeless and low-income communities.
Mehak Dhaliwal, Caledon. Mehak established Caledon’s first all-girls high school robotics team and led Central Peel Secondary School to the FIRST Robotics International Championship in 2019. She also co-founded SPARK, a non-profit dedicated to giving everyone equal opportunities to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs and computer coding. Mehak is helping thousands of youth discover what’s possible through science and technology.
Aryan Gautam, Mississauga. Aryan has dedicated an impressive 14,000 volunteer hours – and nine years of his life – to environmental causes. He is the youngest founder of a federally-incorporated non-profit, Save the Planet – Open Doors, and manages a network of 2,000 volunteers working on sustainability projects that reach 15 million people worldwide. Aryan is the youngest director of the Mississauga Climate Action Group and was recognized with the prestigious Princess Diana Award.
Aryan Gautam of Mississauga, Ontario.
Haya Khan, Mississauga. Haya is an international human rights advocate and established a not-for-profit, called HayaHelps, delivering global humanitarian aid focused on water, sanitation and healthcare. She has raised over $400,000 to construct solar panel water wells and positively transform the lives of over 100,000 marginalized people. Haya destigmatizes mental health through her sustainable EmpowHER program and helps refugee women cope with trauma through psychosocial rehabilitation, entrepreneurial training and financial literacy.
Ashvini Muralitharan, Milton. Ashvini is highly motivated to fight racism and sexism, determined to shine a light on these issues. Volunteering with the Girl’s Empowerment Movement, she used her design talents to create multimedia tools to promote awareness. As head of design with Helping Hands, she created a handbook and social media posts connecting with youth across Ontario. Ashvini is currently pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Biological and Medical Imaging Physics at McMaster University.
Aditi Soin, Toronto. Aditi created a non-profit organization, Lend a Hand, pairing seniors with other volunteers who provide them with critical support. This was particularly crucial for seniors and those with disabilities during the difficulty of the pandemic. The name of her organization is appropriate, as Aditi is quick to lend a hand in myriad ways, from serving on school council, to coaching youth basketball at the YMCA. She contributes time and skills to the Daily Food Bank and teaches yoga and dance to seniors. Aditi also helps with Pens to Pals, writing and sending letters to hospitalized children.
2022 recipients include:
Arvind Krishendeholl, Brampton. Arvind liaised with government on behalf of Basket Brigade Canada, a charitable organization that provides food and other basic necessities to individuals and families in need across Canada. He volunteers on the boards of three non-profit organizations in the Greater Toronto Area, while holding several youth advisory and leadership positions with Peel Regional Police, Trillium Health Partners, and The Anti-Black Racism and Systemic Discrimination Collective of Peel. Arvind is also the manager of settlement programs at Indus Community Services, a non-profit organization that provides culturally appropriate services to the local community.
Kusha Shirani, Oakville. Kusha has devoted hundreds of hours to community service, including organizing weekly local park clean ups and annual food drives; coaching youth soccer; and creating mental health awareness events at his high school. With the Oakville Police Youth Advisory Committee, he helps develop equity and inclusion programs. He is a recipient of the bronze, silver and gold levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Kusha now studies biomedical engineering and health sciences at McMaster University and continues to find opportunities to give back.