Salina with her role models and parents, Salim and Azmina.

Salina Dharamsi, an outstanding humanitarian leadership and fundraising in her local community and internationally, inspiring other youth to volunteer their service, was among MP Joyce Murray’s 30 recipients of Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals for outstanding service to the Vancouver Quadra community. “I would like to thank all nominees for their service to the community, and all nominators for their efforts to ensure admirable leaders in Vancouver Quadra are recognized,” said Murray.

Source: http://thelinkpaper.ca/?p=25685

Salina Dharamsi

An advocate for equity, justice and global acceptance, Salina displays a social conscience that marks her as a true leader. Salina has served as a World Vision Youth Ambassador in Rwanda, a United Nations Panelist on Disaster Risk Reduction in New York and a Global Platform Youth Facilitator in Geneva. Locally, she is a tireless volunteer who has taught nutrition classes in the Downtown Eastside, tutored children with learning disabilities and served as a volunteer for Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. In recognition of her extraordinary contributions, Salina is an Order of Canada Youth Mentee, as well as a recipient of the BC Community Achievement Medallion. Salina is completing her UBC accounting and e-business degree, and has excelled as a co-op student at KPMG.

Connecting the Community Quote:

“My passion for advocating for mothers in difficult circumstances was sparked while representing World Vision at a widows’ cooperative in Rwanda; working to achieve self-reliance and independence those mothers, and the at-risk teens I work with locally, are my inspiration for supporting YWCA’s early learning and child care program which provides affordable childcare to teen moms enrolled at Tupper Secondary School.”

Article: http://www.ywcavan.org/content/2012_Nominees___Young_Women_of_Distinction/

VANCOUVER – MP Joyce Murray is pleased to congratulate the 30 recipients of Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medals for outstanding service to the Vancouver Quadra community.

“I would like to thank all nominees for their service to the community, and all nominators for their efforts to ensure admirable leaders in Vancouver Quadra are recognized,” said MP Murray.

Murray assembled an independent committee to select the 30 medal recipients, in order to ensure different perspectives and communities were included in the decisions.

She continued, “The selection committee of 10 community leaders had their work cut out for them, with the difficult task of reviewing and selecting the thirty winners from almost 150 diverse and accomplished nominees.

“Thank you to Selection Committee Chair Ms. Penny Bain, and all committee members, community leaders in their own right, who volunteered their time to assist in the process of honouring Vancouver Quadra’s outstanding leaders; and to Colonel Bryan Gagne who assisted in the selection of four Canadian Forces recipients.”

Recipient Salina Dharamsi

Outstanding humanitarian leadership and fundraising in her local community and internationally, inspiring other youth to volunteer their service

Full article: https://joycemurray.liberal.ca/uncategorized/queen-elizabeth-ii-diamond-jubilee-medal-announcement/

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.

Forty-five British Columbians representing 27 communities throughout the province were honoured at the fifth annual BC Community Achievement Awards ceremony held at Government House in Victoria.

Lieutenant Governor Stephen Point and Premier Gordon Campbell presented each recipient with a medallion designed by B.C. artist Robert Davidson on behalf of the BC Achievement Foundation.

“The BC Community Achievement Awards recognize people from across our province who enrich the lives of others, give freely of their time and energy, and who embody the spirit of and passion of our communities,” said Premier Campbell. “Through their actions, they demonstrate the power of one person to make a positive impact on an entire community, and an entire province. It is an honour to recognize their achievements and celebrate their contributions towards making British Columbia the best place on Earth.”

“This year’s recipients demonstrate that British Columbians are making a difference in every area of our province,” said foundation chair Keith Mitchell. “Whether they live in smaller communities such as New Hazelton and Tofino or the major centres like Victoria, Cranbrook and the Lower Mainland, they have found ways making each of their communities a better place to live.”

Bio: Salina Dharamsi is a Grade 12 student who through her high school years has made significant contributions to her school and the wider community. She has organized fundraising events such as Legs for Literacy and her school’s first-ever 30 hour famine which raised almost $5,000. She has been a student council member and a peer counselor and tutor and she has been very active in her school’s partnership with an inner city school. An exemplary leader, Salina does not seek the spotlight with her actions but she naturally attracts it exuding an authentic compassion in all her pursuits.

Online: http://www.bcachievement.com/community/recipients.php?year=2008

The Order of Canada Mentorship Program was established in 2008 by the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, to provide an opportunity for members of the Order of Canada to mentor young Canadians, aged between 18 and 25, in their fields of interest or in their endeavors.

The one-year program involves a gathering of 25 young participants and their 25 mentors in Ottawa, followed by an online mentorship during which time participants will be invited to join in live chats with the Governor General. They will also be invited to post blogs and to share updates on their projects with others and with visitors of the www.citizenvoices.gg.ca website.

Mentee bio: Though only 18 years old, Salina Dharamsi has organized various events to assist young people, both in her community and internationally. She has contributed her time and talent to numerous causes, and her passion and dedication have been recognized with numerous awards.

Online (General Information): http://www.gg.ca/cvedc/en/themes/mentorship/questions.html

Online (Participant Bio): http://www.gg.ca/cvedc/en/themes/mentorship/participants2009.html

This past year, many young people helped inspire compassion through their actions. The 30 Hour Famine was able to:

• Involve 100,000 participants from 1,550 groups from schools and churches
• Raise $3.1 million

An important element of the 30 Hour Famine is World Vision’s Youth Ambassador program, which encourages the best young Canadian leaders to rise to the challenges of our world and inspire their peers to do the same.

“I look forward to the 30 Hour Famine every year as a chance to stand in solidarity with the millions of children who lack access to proper rights, education, health, and opportunity. The feeling of incredible empowerment after completing the 30 Hour Famine subdues the grumbling of my tummy, knowing that I am part of a movement of youth who have the power to create change!”

-Youth Ambassador Michelle Vanderzon

“The 30 Hour Famine will not only open your heart but also provide you with a foundation of knowledge on issues including poverty, malnutrition, and child trafficking that will aid you in your quest for a more just and peaceful world.”

-Youth Ambassador Salina Dharamsi

Online: http://www.worldvision.ca/ContentArchives/content-stories/Pages/cr_30hourfamine_2010.aspx