Healthy Communities • YMCA Events • YMCA Global Initatives
Celebrating local peacemakers with the 2016 Peace Medallion
20 September 2016 - by June Findlay
Peace Week is a nationwide celebration each November that recognizes the efforts of the peacemakers from all walks of life. Two such peacemakers from the Greater Toronto Area will receive a special honour during this year’s Peace Week (November 19–26): the prestigious Peace Medallion.
We’re currently accepting nominations for this year’s Peace Medallion. Do you know someone who has made a positive change in your community? Tell us about it! Nominations for this year's Peace Medallions are now being accepted. (The deadline to nominate a peacemaker is October 19th.)
To give you an idea of what it means to be a peacemaker, here are the stories of last year’s Peace Medallion recipients, Simrat and Kavita.
Simrat Heer: Speaking out against bullying
Simrat has one goal in her community building work: end girl on girl bullying. She is doing this by reaching out to community partners, delivering inspiring presentations, and speaking with and listening to the experiences of young women in various communities.
Her efforts in this area have deeply personal roots. At seven years old, Simrat experienced the onset of a rare facial disorder called Romberg’s Syndrome. Throughout her school years in the UK, she was a victim of horrific bullying by her peers. She has turned this experience into an opportunity to build peace in her community and beyond.
Simrat is inspiring in her ability to creatively engage others (particularly young girls who have been bullied or who have bullied others) to understand the perspective of being a victim of bullying and also how to overcome this adversity, be resilient, and carry on with strength and joy in their lives.
Kavita Dogra: Ending injustices against women
Kavita was born in Canada, but spent a portion of her childhood growing up in New Delhi, India. During this time, Kavita was exposed to poverty and social injustice, as well as educational opportunities that empowered women through her mother’s civic engagement. Kavita was inspired to take action on both a global and local scale through voluntarism, co-founding a non-profit organization, and initiating an annual event taking place each year on International Women’s Day.
Kavita founded We Talk Women, an awareness organization that provides a platform for open dialogue on topics directly impacting women such as female genital mutilation, trafficking, child marriage, and missing Aboriginal women. Kavita organizes events that engage the community through documentary screenings and guest speakers, and has brought attention to a number of issues impacting women locally and globally through her online outreach and events.
Ready to nominate someone? Fill out our online nomination form, and stay tuned for more Peace Week news and events in your community.
We’re currently accepting nominations for this year’s Peace Medallion. Do you know someone who has made a positive change in your community? Tell us about it! Nominations for this year's Peace Medallions are now being accepted. (The deadline to nominate a peacemaker is October 19th.)
To give you an idea of what it means to be a peacemaker, here are the stories of last year’s Peace Medallion recipients, Simrat and Kavita.
Simrat Heer: Speaking out against bullyingSimrat has one goal in her community building work: end girl on girl bullying. She is doing this by reaching out to community partners, delivering inspiring presentations, and speaking with and listening to the experiences of young women in various communities.
Her efforts in this area have deeply personal roots. At seven years old, Simrat experienced the onset of a rare facial disorder called Romberg’s Syndrome. Throughout her school years in the UK, she was a victim of horrific bullying by her peers. She has turned this experience into an opportunity to build peace in her community and beyond.
Simrat is inspiring in her ability to creatively engage others (particularly young girls who have been bullied or who have bullied others) to understand the perspective of being a victim of bullying and also how to overcome this adversity, be resilient, and carry on with strength and joy in their lives.
Kavita Dogra: Ending injustices against womenKavita was born in Canada, but spent a portion of her childhood growing up in New Delhi, India. During this time, Kavita was exposed to poverty and social injustice, as well as educational opportunities that empowered women through her mother’s civic engagement. Kavita was inspired to take action on both a global and local scale through voluntarism, co-founding a non-profit organization, and initiating an annual event taking place each year on International Women’s Day.
Kavita founded We Talk Women, an awareness organization that provides a platform for open dialogue on topics directly impacting women such as female genital mutilation, trafficking, child marriage, and missing Aboriginal women. Kavita organizes events that engage the community through documentary screenings and guest speakers, and has brought attention to a number of issues impacting women locally and globally through her online outreach and events.
Ready to nominate someone? Fill out our online nomination form, and stay tuned for more Peace Week news and events in your community.
