尤物视频

Political science major and education minor Rochelle Prasad made international news this summer when she received the for her social activism and volunteerism. Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the award is considered the most prestigious accolade a young person can receive for their social action or humanitarian work.

鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 never about the award,鈥� Prasad says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about the network and the resources that come with it, but to get the recognition, especially in Princess Diana鈥檚 name, that was incredible.鈥�

Prasad continued her regal summer when she took over the British royal family鈥檚 Instagram account for the 2020 along with five other young people. She posted about the COVID pandemic and the COVID relief projects that her non-profit is running to help frontline workers and low-income families.

鈥淲e provided 200 meals for frontline workers in Surrey,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e partnered up with and gave away 100 care packages to low income families that really needed them during this time. We also highlighted frontline workers in Metro Vancouver in an online campaign. This involved photographing essential workers in our community in action and posting a recap video on our social media channels, along with a thank you message.鈥�

Prasad has accomplished more in her 21 years than some people achieve in a lifetime. She launched the SPARK Foundation (then called Camp We Empower) in 2014 with grade 10 classmate Amandeep Boparai. The non-profit organization trains youth to be leaders in their schools, local communities, and the world stage.

Prasad鈥檚 parents taught her that community service is key to personal development. She also credits an inspirational teacher she had in grades three to five for setting her on the path to community service: 鈥淗er name was Miss Dhillon. In her class, we baked cookies for firefighters, went on recycling campaigns and learned what it means to be a committed citizen. That鈥檚 where I truly harnessed that passion for volunteering.鈥�

Prasad learned a lasting lesson about community activism when she boarded a school bus to go to Science World with her grade four class.

鈥淎s we were getting on the school bus, I noticed that there were no seat belts,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or me, that was a problem. That year, there were news stories about buses flipping over and car accidents. So, in my young mind, I thought, 鈥榯his needs to be dealt with.鈥� I made a big scene about it and my teacher decided not to take me on the field trip, which was totally fine.鈥�

Prasad launched a petition to get seatbelts in school buses, collecting 1,500 signatures from students, teachers and staff. With her mom鈥檚 help, Prasad mailed the petition to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He replied and connected Prasad with local community members with ties to the federal government who educated her as to why it was safer for school buses not to have seatbelts.

鈥淭hat taught me that I liked asking those hard questions and I liked figuring out what鈥檚 best for not only myself, but the people around me,鈥� she says. 鈥淔rom there, I jumped from the seatbelts to becoming a mini activist in grades six and seven, closing down gun stores in Surrey. And it just kept going.鈥�

In 2018, Prasad transferred from Trinity Western University to SFU, a move spurred by SFU鈥檚 Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection program, which began supporting Camp We Empower.

At SFU, Prasad鈥檚 political science courses have shown her how political theories go hand in hand with her community work. She鈥檚 also connected with different political science and entrepreneurship groups. She鈥檚 using these connections, and the knowledge she鈥檚 gaining to help her achieve her dream of working as the Canadian representative at the United Nations.

For other students who are also looking to make a positive difference in the world, Prasad advises them to find their 鈥渨hy鈥�.

鈥淎s soon as you can find out why you are really passionate about something, research which organizations are doing something connected to your why,鈥� says Prasad. 鈥淚f there鈥檚 nothing, start your own. Remember, it all starts with an idea.鈥�