When Alaina learned that girls in Afghanistan do not go to school, she started raising money for teachers’ salaries and soon inspired a group of girls that eventually became the first chapter of Little Women for Little Women in Afghanistan, an affiliate of Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. There are now 10 Little Women chapters in Canada. Alaina continues to present to schools, youth groups and community clubs.

Saddened by the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Erin and her brother, Connor, created the Small Hands Big Hearts Foundation to provide a venue for kids in Edmonton to help families affected by the disaster. For a donation, kids and adults were invited to make a handprint on a piece of paper and write a message of hope. Thousands of handprints and dollars have been collected and passed on to the American Red Cross.

Since Emma’s sixth birthday, she has forgone a birthday party in favour of an annual birthday fund-raiser for the McMaster Children’s Hospital. The events started small, with just the girls in her Grade 1 class, but have grown to two community events for her last birthday. She plans months in advance and works with the children’s hospital, sponsors and organizations. She was recently invited to speak at other schools.

Melanie spearheaded and coordinates Reading Rocks!, which has helped raise the reading level of many children. When she was 11, and not long after she became a junior board member of the Links to Learning Resource Centre, Melanie developed the reading program for children whose parents visit the centre. She has raised money, collected books and even applauds the efforts of the children with an awards ceremony.

Jeneece initiated a penny drive seven years ago with the goal of raising an extraordinary amount of money for Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC, which had helped Jeneece and her family during her struggle with neurofibromatosis. In February 2008 Jeneece reached her target despite major surgeries and intense recovery. She rallied other children as well as media and government. The Coin Drive has grown into a province-wide fund-raiser.

Dallas, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age six, founded the Kids Curing Kids Foundation in 2004. The foundation has raised thousands of dollars by auctioning off paintings created by young cancer patients. The foundation’s board, made up of six kids, decides which children’s cancer charity will benefit from their hard work. The live auction has turned into an annual event now going into its fifth year.

Robin works with at-risk youth who are looking for someone to recognize their value. Mainstream education and employment avenues haven’t worked for these people, so she created and runs For the Love of Learning, an alternative education program that she runs out of a church basement. It consists of workshops based in creativity and unconditional positive that are offered seven days a week. In almost three years, hundreds of students have gone on to be published poets, artists and musicians.

Kris recognized the abuse many sexual-minority youth face on a daily basis. In response he created Camp fYrefly, Canada’s largest leadership retreat for gay, lesbian and bi-sexual youth. The camp has mentored hundreds of youth since its inception in 2004 and is supported by dozens of volunteers and donors. In 2009, Camp fYrefly will expand to British Columbia and Ontario, so more youth and their families will find the support they need.

Dion founded The Gateway, a Salvation Army shelter for men over 18 years of age, because he recognized the need to create work for people who have been out of the workforce. They need opportunities to be retrained in a setting that understands their issues, particularly homelessness. Dion has helped build a shelter with a good reputation among people living on the street and the surrounding neighbourhood.

While working as a social worker in the oncology department at a community hospital, Teresa saw the need for a local palliative care residence. She mobilized community leaders, politicians, businesses and citizens to raise money to build and operate the nine-bed West Island Palliative Care Residence. With no formal fund-raising training, she has successfully accessed the necessary resources to allow patients to die with dignity and end-of-life comforts.

Amanda spearheaded a yoga program for at-risk youth in Ottawa. The program combines physical yoga with self-reflection and meditation, but it also promotes improved coping strategies and positive participation in the community. She has an active volunteer network and worked with many community agencies, reaching hundreds of youth who face diverse challenges ranging from homelessness to teen pregnancy to eating disorders.

When Chantel was diagnosed with cancer and registered with One Match bone marrow transplant list, she discovered only about one per cent of the people on the list were Aboriginal. She contacted the Burntwood Regional Health Authority and they launched an education and recruitment campaign called Chantel’s Promise. She gives presentations and interviews to spread the word. The number of requests from northern Manitoba about the One Match program has increased significantly as a result.

Thanks to the leadership of Michele, the activities of Ecole St. Patrick High School’s SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) chapter have saved countless lives in Yellowknife. The community is tremendously supportive of SADD and most events offer SADD’s drive-home program. Michele has been the staff advisor for this group since she started the SADD chapter in 1994. Each year the chapter has many active student members as well as participation from other staff.

Through her counselling program, Hariette encourages and empowers students to inspire others to show kindness in simple ways. With her support, students started a Random Acts of Kindness Week in Coquitlam, B.C. The following year, Hariette and her students successfully petitioned the provincial government to proclaim Random Acts of Kindness Week for British Columbia. Hariette sees the possibilities within her students and encourages their growth and creativity.

Michele wanted her students in her small town to dream and act big, so she created the MAD (Make a Difference) Club with the motto DAM MAD (Don’t Always Moan, Make a Difference). Over the past three years, students and community members have participated in educational activities to help them understand the hardships facing people in developing countries and raised money for overseas charities.