Harnoor Volunteers

HarnnorGill (200K)

Apr 18th, 2014: Harnoor Gill was born in Hong Kong and now lives in Canada. He currently studies as a sophomore in Grade 10 at Christ the King Catholic Secondary School in Georgetown, Ontario.

As a teenager, Harnoor Gill has been an avid volunteer in his community and has been volunteering since the age of three. Harnoor started his own group called Peace Welcome Club in February of 2012. “There were two big reasons that drew me to volunteering: my mother and my father. They never pushed me to get involved, but rather they supported and encouraged my desire to make a difference.” Without the help and support from my parents, Harnoor states that he wouldn’t be where he is today.

“When I was 3 years old, I started volunteering at social events with my parents and going door-to-door selling cookies to raise money for the Hong Kong Red Cross. It wasn’t until we visited India and I had my first brush with poverty in the form of a freezing child on the streets during the cold winter that I realized how much of a difference I could make.”

In February of 2012, Harnoor Gill successfully launched the Peace Welcome Club on his own without any help to welcome newcomer youth by teaching them about their community and how they can contribute to it. Volunteering within Harnoor’s own community helped him to get to know the people around him and adapt to his new culture, all while having fun as well as making a contribution to the community. “I want to pass on my experiences to other youth facing the same challenges, and help them understand the Canadian landscape in a real way so they can keep what is good and change what is not.”

“I also want to pass on the message that age is not a barrier, and you are never too young to get involved and make a difference. Many people told me that I couldn’t accomplish anything because of my age, but I’ve spent the past 10 years volunteering with local and national organizations, and I have done so successfully with an age barrier.” Harnoor Gill believes that anyone can make a difference in their community and all you need is a little inspiration and motivation to get going.

Harnoor’s involvement in volunteering events has really helped him to build confidence and gain leadership skills. “I’ve done hands-on work like pulling weeds and ripping out invasive species at the Willow Park Ecology Centre, fundraised, served on community committees, launched the Jean Green Drive to provide underprivileged and homeless youth with gently used jeans, and taught others how to get involved via articles, conferences and the Peace Welcome Club.”

Volunteer virtuoso, Harnoor believes that by making a difference in the community and inspiring others with one volunteering feat at a time that the world will become a better place to enjoy and live in for all and forever.

For more details please visit the following links:

International Diana Award – http://www.hcdsb.org/News/Pages/2013-10-04-Christ-the-King-Catholic-Secondary-School-Student,-Harnoor-Gill,-Receives-International-Diana-Award.aspx

South Asian Teen of the Year Award – http://asianjournal.ca/harnoor-gill-teen-of-the-year/

International Young Eco-Hero Award – http://www.theifp.ca/news/teen-named-an-eco-hero/

The Queen Jubilee Medal: http://www.hcdsb.org/News/Pages/2012-12-19-HCDSB-Honours-Harnoor-Gill-and-Allan-Nason.aspx

YMCA Peace Medallion: http://www.mississauga.com/community-story/3130028-peace-medallion-goes-to-inspiring-teen/

Young Conservationist: http://www.georgetownon.ca/index.php/health-resources/for-seniors/366-editorials/701-canadian-teen-harnoor-gill-face-of-the-future

Citizen (Youth) Award – http://www.oyetimes.com/lifestyle/teens/24729-canada-s-top-15-under-15-receives-conservation-halton-award-of-excellence

Canada’s Top 15 Under 15: http://thelinkpaper.ca/?p=12901

Ontario Junior Citizen Of The Year: http://www.theifp.ca/uncategorized/junior-citizen-honoured/

Peace Welcome Club’s youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/PeaceWelcomeClub/videos  Peace Welcome Club’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PeaceWelcomeClub

Columnist – Asian Journal
http://asianjournal.ca/?s=Harnoor+Gill