At only 15 years of age, he has represented Canada on various international platforms and is determined to raise awareness on pressing global issues that he feels strongly about.
More than just a precocious teenager, Abhayjeet Sachal is making his country and community proud. At only 15 years of age, he has represented Canada on various international platforms and is determined to raise awareness on pressing global issues that he feels strongly about.
Sachal recently returned from his trip to Vimy Ridge. He was among a group of 17 students selected from across Canada for the Vimy Pilgrimage Award to mark the 100th anniversary of the World War I. During their stay in Belgium and France, these students learned about history and the destruction caused by the war.
The 15-year-old was also part of a group of five students chosen by the governor general’s office to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Duke of Cambridge Prince William, Minister of Defence Harjit Sajjan, and Minister of Veterans Affairs Kent Hehr, at the occasion.
Born in Amritsar, Punjab, Sachal moved to Canada with his family when he was 11 months old. He is currently a grade 10 student at Seaquam Secondary School where he is known to be an all-rounder. From playing tennis and musical instruments to debating, Sachal has not only tried his hands at everything but has also excelled.
He is a natural at public speaking. In 2013, he gave a TEDx talk titled the ‘Theory of Creativity’. Shortly after, he was invited by Deloitte Incorporation to give a presentation at Captain James Cook Elementary School in Vancouver to inspire hundreds of young students like himself.
“I also started a Speech Club at my school to help students with public speaking and I am an active member of the Debate and Model United Nations Club, where I went on different delegations to debate on issues such as climate change and Arctic sovereignty,” he says proudly.
The young achiever has also been a passionate environmentalist. This prompted him to try his luck at the Students on Ice Arctic Expedition in 2016. He received a $12,000 scholarship from the United States embassy to take part in the expedition.
“The journey was more than a chance to look at polar bears and icebergs; it gave me the opportunity to connect with scientists and students from around the world. I immersed myself with the humanitarian aspect of the issue of climate change and its effects on marginalized Inuit communities,”
he says of the experience.
On his return from the Arctic expedition, he formed Break The Divide – an initiative to connect students all across the world through video calls. The first stage is currently connecting students in BC with youth in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, to particularly raise awareness on mental health.
“We also aim to bridge the gap between Aboriginal communities and non-Aboriginal communities, and we encourage a healthy relationship between the North and the South, one of mutual understanding and respect. From our dialogue, we hope to work on brainstorming and implementing possible long-term, sustainable solutions that will end stigmas about issues facing our communities,” shares Sachal who is now in the process of expanding this to schools all across Canada and in London, Tokyo, Paris, Brussels and Amritsar.
His family continues to be a source of strength and inspiration for him, particularly his grandfather. “My grandfather, Brigadier Mohinder Singh risked his life in the 1947 Partition to help thousands of people get to safety. His forty-year service in the Indian army, where he fought three wars, instilled within me a dedication to help others through different forms of media,” he states.
Despite being involved in so many activities and initiatives, Sachal has maintained a flawless academic record at school. He also finds time for volunteering to make a difference. He is part of organizations such as Road2Wellness and Students Without Borders. For Sachal, determination and dedication can achieve anything and that is what he wants to see in his peers.
PHOTOS: Martin Lipman/ soi foundation, Lee Narraway/soi foundation, Abhayjeet Sachal