Harnoor Gill, born in Hong Kong, is a 17-year old Canadian Sikh youth, who will be conferred with the prestigious ‘Bharat Gaurav’ Award. This award comes with a Certificate of Excellence from the India International Friendship Society of New Delhi, India.
The award will be presented on January 8, 2016. Harnoor will be recognized for his outstanding services, achievements and contributions, raising the flag of India high outside the country.
Gill moved to Canada with his parents in Canada in 2002, and is a youth community activist. He is a passionate youth always willing to help others, to serve local and global community. For the last three years, he has been tirelessly working to strengthen ties between India and Canada, on a local level. He has gone above and beyond to reach out to the youth in India and his efforts to boost the relationship between the two countries are immeasurable.
At the age of 14, Gill founded the Peace Welcome Club, in order to encourage youth to get involved in volunteering opportunities. Harnoor volunteers with many local organizations including World Vision Canada, Town of Halton Hills and Crime Stoppers of Halton.
He is dedicated to raising awareness about youth volunteering among youth worldwide. He has been published locally and internationally and on several online sites. Harnoor has also been serving as the youngest Brand Ambassador for the Times of India. He has delivered keynote speeches to several academic institutions and universities in Canada during the last decade, and currently is on Board of the Laidlaw Foundation as an Youth Advisor.
Being a youth leader in the community, Gill has helped thousands of youth, from all parts of the world, to get involved in their communities and in their volunteer service requirement for high school to Canada. He has been associated with local youth in India to inspire them and help them become leaders in their communities with the goal of making a difference.
“We have inspired and encouraged our Youth Ambassadors to create and lead projects such as: community clean ups, food drive and jean drives, to help the children in need. We have successfully participated in ‘Clean India project and raised awareness about reducing waste and make sustainable choices through write ups,’ said Gill.
Gill is also a recipient of; Punjabi Press Club of Canada’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2014; the International ‘Diana’ Award in 2013; the ‘YMCA Peace Medallion’ in 2012; the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and Canada’s Top 15 Under 15, in 2011.
‘Bharat Gaurav’ Award was started in 1977, by the International Friendship Society that has been awarding NRIs for contributions in social work.
This prestigious award has been presented to prominent personalities include: Beatified Mother Teresa, General G V Krishna Rao, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Prem Kumar Dhumal, former Air Chief Marshal N C Suri, film stars like Sunil Dutt, educationists like Parimal Trivedi, Vice Chancellor Gujrat University, HA Ranganath; cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Olympic Silver Medallist in hockey Dhanraj Pillay.
Gill is invited to attend the annual function of IIFS “Global Participation in India’s Economic Development” scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 8th January, 2016. This conference is focused on meaningful and interactive sessions that would address the issues and concerns of the overseas Indian community effectively. Since 2016 marks the hundredth anniversary of the return of the greatest 'Pravasi' of all, Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa, it is desired that Global Friendship Day would be celebrated in a grand way.
IIFS is an old organization engaged in helping achieve India’s targeted economic growth and modernization IIFS objective is to provide a platform such as the ensuing “Global Friendship Day” to facilitate interaction between NRI & Government of India and State Governments with regard to their investment and mutual benefit. The organization has a goal to strengthen and enhance friendship around the world.
Also at this event Global Friendship Day, the Society confers ‘Bharat Gaurav’ Award to luminous personalities in India and abroad, who have glorified India with outstanding contributions in their specialized fields, such as science & technology, education, services providers industry, politics and social work, peace and harmony, religious activities, arts and literatures, etc.
Volunteer virtuoso, Gill believes that getting involved in the community is an essential part of anyone's growth because when the community grows, everyone grows! No matter what your age is, you can raise a voice to issues that matter to you in your very own community.
