Abid Virani
Guelph, Ontario
Age at time of award: 19
At the age of 17, Abid Virani co-founded Student Reach International (SRI) to provide opportunities for students to make contributions to the global community. Since then, SRI has raised over $50,000 for various causes including HIV/AIDS, women’s empowerment and education. Abid’s focus today is Reach Lesotho, an academic and leadership program that is producing a documentary with a creed that youth can make an impact. Abid enjoys writing and is working on a book that he hopes will be titled, “Finding Hope.” After a profoundly moving visit with Abid to the Tsepong HIV/AIDS clinic in Lesotho, where they witnessed the impact of SRI, Mayor Brenda Halloran of Waterloo expresses her firm belief that Abid is “not only an agent for change, but… a catalyst for a movement of global citizenship”.
Aly Kassim-Lakha
Toronto, Ontario
Age at time of award: 16
Aly has won many accolades for his entrepreneurial efforts and community service. As Junior Achievement’s Company President, Top Salesperson, Outstanding Leader and Entrepreneur in Ontario, he represented Canada at JA’s International Conference for Young Leaders. An International Baccalaureate honours student, he has acted as a VP in the Model UN, a Tutor Leader in “Horizons Tutoring”; and is a Big Brother. Aly was chosen to be Project Leader of his team’s company in Shad Valley’s business creation competition. Based on triple-bottom line principles, their “CocoNet” company researched the development of an anti-malarial net made of 100% bio-degradable coconut fibre and much less expensive than currently available mosquito nets. Recognized with many awards, they captured the top prize, the prestigious “RBC/Shad Entrepreneurship Cup” plus a proposal from an international company wanting to take the product to market.
Source: Top 20
Informatics 