DATELINE DESI
REMARKABLE YOUNG DESIS HONOURED
Divya Massilamani was honoured for her for outstanding volunteer contributions to the province of Ontario.
Ontario honoured 24 remarkable young people between the ages of 15 and 24 with the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers for 2019 and 2020 in a virtual ceremony. The medal is the highest recognition a young person can achieve for their outstanding volunteer contributions to the province.
“With much pride, as the representative of Her Majesty The Queen in Ontario, I congratulate the recipients of the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers,” said Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. “Our schools, our towns and cities, and our world, need empathy and understanding. You are proving that it is possible to find new and relevant ways to make positive change.”
The 2019 and 2020 recipients of the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers include community organizers, gender equity advocates, creators in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), mental health advocates, and many more individuals working to make a difference in their communities.
Recipients include:
Anjana Balachandran of Ottawa who is dedicated to encouraging youth to give back to the community and get involved in important causes. Passionate about the UN Sustainable Development goals, she has been working on a social enterprise that addresses food insecurity in food deserts around Ottawa. She believes that everyone’s voice should be heard, regardless of background, age or race.
Tejas Dhami of Burlington recognized the difficulties faced by non-English speaking Canadians when it came to understanding prescriptions and medical terminology. He created a website that translated online resources for Punjabi and Syrian communities in Ontario. Thanks to him, patients have the information they need to thrive.
Divya Massilamani of Ottawa has enriched the lives of many around her. She has spent over a decade volunteering at long-term care homes entertaining residents with her musical talent and providing nurses with vital support. Indian orphanages have benefited from her compassion. Her commitment has earned her the United Way Community Builder Award and an inscription on the Wall of Inspiration at Ottawa City Hall.
Aditi Sivakumar of Kanata is motivated to support women and children facing domestic violence. She developed an app named My Empowerment to connect them with resources in their community. She has volunteered with a long list of charitable organizations and was a member of the Speakers Bureau of Volunteer Ottawa, educating others on the rewards of volunteerism.
Arya Peruma of Mississauga believes that women and racialized people are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math. She founded Coding for Young Minds, providing live tutoring and free education kits during the pandemic, a challenging time for many students. It is people like Arya who lay a foundation of success for so many others.