December 18/2011

Alia and Salina Dharamsi, Vancouver

They are only in their 20s, but Vancouver sisters Alia and Salina Dharamsi are lifelong volunteers already. Alia, 23, a University of BC medical student, has logged 500 hours at Canuck Place, taught science and math in inner-city schools and founded UBC’s Meal Exchange, raising $57,000 for charities such as Sheway.

“If you have food, you can establish community,” Alia says. “Sharing food is such an essential part of our culture, but for many people it is no longer attainable or affordable.”

Alia has also done volunteer work in Guatemala and in B.C., developing global public health materials for local high schools and has earned a 2011 YWCA Young Woman of Distinction award for her efforts.

Salina, 21, a UBC Sauder School of Business student, has been volunteering since age eight. She has done volunteer work at Canuck Place, with the Mount Currie First Nations band, and UBC’s Emerging Leaders program. She has raised money for literacy and the 30-Hour Famine. Abroad, volunteered in Rwanda as a World Vision Youth Ambassador, taught in Guatemala, and served as a delegate to UN conferences.

Both sisters, who are of Ismaili heritage, which brings with it a commitment to giving back, have also won B.C. Community Achievement Awards.