Oakville Student, 11, Named One of Canada's Top Changemakers

Sophia Khalid started a Kindness Club at her school three years ago on one idea: that no child should feel left out because of what their parents can afford. The 11-year-old Oodenawi Public School student now has a national award for where the club went.

Sophia was named one of Canada's Top 10 U18 Changemakers at Children First Canada's Future Is Now Awards in Toronto on October 16, where she received the Thriving Communities Award for her work on poverty. "I wanted to help children feel like they are included and belong," she said. "They should feel that way no matter how much money their parents have."

Working with the Oakville charity Safetynet, Sophia and her volunteers donated clothing and raised enough to buy 100 backpacks, which went to students heading back to school. Other drives brought in $1,100 for McMaster Children's Hospital and sent oral hygiene kits to children who needed them. She has also spent time tutoring refugee children in English.

The work had drawn attention well before the ceremony in Toronto. Oakville North-Burlington MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos invited Sophia to her office to hand her a certificate of achievement, and Prime Minister Mark Carney sent a letter of commendation.

Her mother, Zain Fatima Khalid, said the compassion is not new. There were times when Sophia would see someone homeless and stay visibly upset until her parents gave the person some money.

The award carries $1,000 in funding along with a year of mentorship and coaching. Sophia said the money is going toward more clothing and other necessities for children who need them.