Community leadership develops selflessness, motivation, and goals. This is second nature for Gurniwaz Gagar, an anthropology and philosophy student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, BC.
“I grew up with a strong sense of social responsibility,” says Gagar. “I recognize that I grew up privileged. Not everyone has a good home, food on the table, and educational opportunities. I want to give back and make a difference.”
With this community-minded passion, Gagar founded the Sunshine Society. Established in 2019, the society is a non-profit organization that provides humanitarian aid. As a 27-member team comprised of local high school and university students, this group has affected positive change through community clean-ups, care package donations, and fundraising projects.
In addition to these much-needed initiatives, the Sunshine Society established a scholarship for a Grade 12 student that does not have the financial means for higher education.
“Education is so important, and sometimes finances stop young people from continuing,” says Gagar.
While the pandemic has yet to slow down, this has been an excellent method of increasing involvement for the Sunshine Society. Creating opportunities for community involvement helped students embrace the challenges of the pandemic.
“COVID brought out ambition. We are looking forward to what we can do with that ambition.” says Gagar. She aims to channel this ambition into increasing the societies initiatives post-pandemic.
Gagar’s involvement with the Sunshine Society demonstrates how supporting people who can’t advocate for themselves is an important principal to her. This extends to her studies focused on a career in law, with aspirations to eventually become a judge. By leading a team of dedicated students, Gagar is an excellent representation of what it means to be a student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Through KPU’s hands-on approach to learning, students are encouraged to apply their skills and passions through community focused initiatives.
Established by the government of British Columbia in 1981, Kwantlen Polytechnic University has five campuses located in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia. Almost 20,000 students attend KPU campuses in Surrey, Richmond, Langley, Cloverdale, and Civic Plaza. KPU offers bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and citations in more than 140 programs. Find them on Facebook and Instagram.