Nayha Gill
COUNSELLOR:
Karyn Walmark
SCHOOL:
Mentor College
CITY:
Mississauga, ON
Nayha began making a difference as early as Grade 9. First, she joined Newman Global, a non-profit organization that raises awareness for mental health and addiction. Since then, her initiatives have helped to fund a variety of recovery programs, particularly those for athletes. She has also partnered with Caritas School of Life, a therapeutic group, and Inspira, which builds supportive housing for families in Peru who must travel to Lima for specialized medical care.
Nayha's commitment to both mental and physical health extends to our school and local community as well. For example, she teaches swimming lessons to children with special needs, and she volunteers weekly at a seniors' retirement home. In addition, after successfully applying for a $2,000 grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada, she used the funds to create and print mandala art colouring books, which our school guidance office now shares as a free mindfulness resource.
Finally, Nayha has even founded her own non-profit! Skills Sphere seeks to provide educational resources to underserved communities. For one of her most impactful projects, Books Over Borders, Nayha collaborated with an education superintendent to implement a district-wide book drive. Ultimately, over 100 donations were made to Books For Africa, an international group devoted to improving literacy across the continent.
Nayha's confidence in public speaking—which has won her many awards, including an awe-inspiring 3rd-place finish at DECA Internationals—makes her a natural leader. Even more valuable, however, is her honest, compassionate desire to uplift, empower and connect with others. She is a true role model for her peers!
