I am: Sophia Gran Ruaz, 16 years old, from Mississauga
My story: “I was 11 when my mom and I started researching places where I could volunteer and the answer we got was: “You have to be 18 to volunteer.” So I decided that I’d start my own charity, called “Snug-as-a-bug – Kids Helping Kids,” if I couldn’t work anywhere else.
It always saddened me to hear about people who were homeless. So I decided that I would make small gift packages for women and kids who have to live in shelters. I think it’s very important for kids in these situations to know that someone cares about them.
In the first year, my dad and I would go and meet office managers face to face, and ask for their support through funding or by donating things we could use. Now I work mostly on the phone. The charity works all year through towards “Packing Day” where we make our gift packages.
From update and appeal letters to companies, to organizing inventory to delivering the gift packages to the shelters, there’s a lot to do. We deliver packages to nine shelters in Oshawa, Brampton and Toronto. We’re hoping to hit the 10,000-gifts mark.
I don’t interact with the people who get my gifts because their locations are kept confidential. But I do hear about their reactions indirectly. Once, some kids made a Christmas card for us from the craft box that we sent them so that was really great.
Learning experience: “My age was a challenge as many wondered if I could handle it. There’s school work too to do so it’s a lot going on. The biggest challenge has been to deal with rejection because you have to face it when sponsors say they can’t support the charity. Failure and rejection are not easy to deal with but I always know if someone says no, I have to ask some more people.
My experience has helped me to speak with ease to people anywhere. I’ve learned to manage my time too. It’s made me sensitive to the problems that people face and I’m definitely a better person for it. It’s important for parents to help kids and teach them empathy at a young age.
Get inspired: “I don't come from a wealthy or privileged background, so you don't have to have money or a huge family to make a difference. It wasn't financial backing that got me started: only a goal, determination and one adult who believed in my dream. If you want to make a change, pick something that you’re passionate about. It could be related to the environment, the community or something that you’re into.”
Sophia won the Ontario Community Newspapers Association’s (OCNA) 2007 Ontario Junior Citizen Award. She has also won the Top 20 Under Twenty award. She wants to be a surgeon and continue with her charity work.
