Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveFrom swimming to spotlight: Actress Ashley Ganger’s journey to success

From swimming to spotlight: Actress Ashley Ganger’s journey to success

Written by: Team GI Youth

(May 11, 2024) Rarely does a budding actor strike gold with their inaugural venture, yet Ashley Ganger defied the odds. Making her debut on Netflix’s acclaimed drama Grand Army, the 23-year-old Indian-Canadian actress captivated audiences since its October premiere. Portraying Meera Pakam, a feminist artist/playwright addressing topics such as sexuality and consent, Ganger shines amidst the backdrop of a Brooklyn high school.

Actress | Ashley Ganger | Global Indian

“I am quite grateful that I got this part, and it was a great experience,” shared the actress, in a recent interview, “Actually, Grand Army was my second big audition with an actual character. Before this, I was going to commercial auditions. As soon as I read the character description for Meera I wanted it badly. I worked on the scene with my acting coach and went to the audition. In my head, I thought, “How often is it that someone books the first huge thing that comes their way, haha yeah right no way!” Fast forward to two callbacks later here we are. Funny enough Sydney Meyer, who plays Anna Delaney, was the reader in my second callback and then I reconnected with her on set, so that was fun.”

Donning many hats

Her parents were born in Punjab, India, and moved to Canada in the early 80s in search of better career opportunities. Sharing about her family, the actress said, “Ganger is my dad’s last name, and my family is from India. Both of my parents were born in India and the majority of my extended family is split between England and India. Ganger is a very uncommon Indian last name so sometimes it throws people off; I remember Googling it one time and seeing that it comes from Ireland, no idea about the connection but my family is from India. As far as my first name, my mom wanted to name me just Ash after Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai… so they took the shorter, more Canadian version of that, I guess.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ashley Ganger (@ashleyganger)

Growing up, Ashley loved dancing to Bollywood songs and dressing up whenever she could. But her one true love was swimming. While she thought that she would pursue a career in swimming, after six years of winning numerous medals the youngster shifted her focus to acting. “I think being an athlete, you must push yourself to always work harder because you have this need to constantly evolve and improve. Once I fell in love with acting, I felt that way again. I am constantly pushing myself and trying to find ways to work on my craft. I think it also taught me resilience; in this industry, you must realise quickly that there are going to be a lot of challenges to overcome. When you’re an athlete and train eight times a week in addition to a full course load in school you have to learn to keep pushing and keep your head up all the time,” said the actress.

Interestingly, when she was younger, Ashley’s mother decided to send her to summer theater camp to help her overcome her shyness. “I was super shy and speaking to new people was extremely nerve-racking,” shared the actress, “Going to the camp pushed me out of my comfort zone. Imagine facing one of your biggest fears head-on. One of two things can happen, either you don’t respond well to it and find yourself not participating and sitting in the corner or you can try your best and see what happens. I’m glad I chose the second option. Once I broke the barrier and found my footing loved performing.”

Behind the scenes

After finishing school, the actress acted in several stage shows and eventually enrolled with an acting coach. “Her name is Christina Collins and she is the absolute best! She has been a part of my journey since the beginning and was the one who encouraged me to get an agent,” shared the actress, adding, “I also absolutely love acting classes, it’s honestly such a stress reliever and it’s also a fun way to meet other actors and creatives. I think it’s important to always keep working on your craft, there should never come a time where you feel you’ve learned everything. There is always something new to learn.”

Currently working on the second season of Grand Army, the actress shared that she fell in love with the role as soon as she read the script. “Meera is a badass. She is a young girl who is very firm in her beliefs and loves to challenge her parent’s old school mentality. She isn’t perfect, she makes mistakes, which is completely normal for a teenage girl but she handles situations so well. She’s bold and unashamed. She’s super close with her brother Sid but doesn’t like it when he interferes with her independence. I like her,” the Global Indian said.

“I’m currently figuring out my next project. My agent works hard and finds me great auditions and I am extremely grateful for her. In the meantime, I continue to work on my acting and I’m excited to see what lies next for me,” shared the actress talking about her future projects. Ask her what would be her advice to upcoming actors, and she quipped, “I would say to just be so passionate about life, and storytelling and don’t let anything stop you. It’s a tough industry and career path but if you believe in yourself enough you can accomplish whatever you set out to do. Keep your head up and don’t give up!”

Follow Ashley Ganger on Instagram

Name*

Email*

Name*

Email*

0 Comments

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

Published on 11, May 2024

Share with

ALSO READ

Swinging his best: Indian Golfer Hardik Chawda is aiming for the big shot

(April 2, 2022) As a child, Hardik S Chawda would often wonder where his father Sunil would go early each morning. One such morning in 2008 when Hardik was eight, he insisted on accompanying his father and Sunil drove him straight to the golf course. “This is where I come every morning,” the businessman told his son, who scanned the golf course with excitement. That was also the first time he held a golf club. Today, at 21, Hardik is at his golfing best. He recently became the first from the Hyderabad Golf Association and Telangana to crack the professional golf tour of India's "B" card, on his first attempt. Hardik achieved this feat at the PGTI qualifying school which was held in Ahmedabad at Kalhaar Blue and Greens golf course in February this year. [caption id="attachment_13785" align="aligncenter" width="469"] Hardik S Chawda[/caption] His driving force “My dad introduced me to golf. He often told me to focus on one sport and indulge in it with complete dedication. So I chose golf over everything,” smiles Hardik, speaking with Global Indian. He went through the pre-qualifying events out of which 130 qualified for the final stage. "After four days of competition, the

in it with complete dedication. So I chose golf over everything,” smiles Hardik, speaking with Global Indian. He went through the pre-qualifying events out of which 130 qualified for the final stage. "After four days of competition, the top 40 made the 'A' card and those who finished 41 to 80 got the 'B' card. I finished 51st," says the beaming golfer. With an 'A' card, one can play all the events irrespective of the prize money at stake while the 'B' card holders will get to participate in fewer events. Nonetheless the 'B' card gives him access to about 20 tournaments across the country and he will also be eligible to play tourneys in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

"It was a great week for me and kind of a mixed bag. After the third day, I was doing well and in contention for the 'A' card. But during the final round, I had two bad holes which denied me a top 40 finish and I slipped to 51,” says the young golfer about the recent tournament.

What it takes

"One of the key aspects in this sport is patience. At my level of game, it is all about your mental strength,” says Hardik, a BCom final year student of St Mary’s college in Yousufguda, Hyderabad. He is now completely focussed on his game, putting in many hours of practice, shaping his game to the best.

The youngster says that you either win or lose a tournament with your decision making. "On a professional tour, everyone has a good swing, short game and able putting. A player who makes the right decisions on the course and plays with a very relaxed and confident mindset wins,” says the professional golfer, who has 14 clubs in his 'arsenal' besides other equipment. “Golf equipment is quite expensive and not affordable to most but I'm very thankful to my parents who support me," he says.

Practice makes perfect

Hardik spends anywhere between six to eight hours on his full golf days, which includes close to two hours of fitness. “I do try to play every day except for the days when I have an exam or other academic commitments,” says the Hyderabad-born lad, who studied in Delhi Public School. During lockdown and post lockdown, when there was no golfing, he assisted his father in their chemical business. “But now that I have turned pro, I barely get any time.” The Chawda family originally belongs to Gujarat but have settled in Hyderabad for decades.

[caption id="attachment_13787" align="aligncenter" width="638"] Hardik S Chawda with his family[/caption]

He says fitness plays a huge role in professional golfing. “Golf is no more for a short hitter. Everyone now understands the importance of fitness and how it can benefit their game and we see players hitting more than 320- 330 yards of carry distance,” says Hardik. His workout comprises warm up stretches which he does before he leaves to play. Upon return, he does foam rolling just to release and relax the whole body. “I also do a little bit of meditation before my rounds. I try to eat healthy and avoid oily and junk food as much as I can,” informs the golfer, who likes to play cricket and basketball with friends in his free time besides watching adventure or rom-coms on Netflix and other OTT platforms.

So what are Hardik’s future plans? “Firstly, I want to play well on the Professional Golf Tour Of India this year. Thereafter, I aim to move on to the Asian Tour, European tour and ultimately the PGA tour. For me nothing matters until I'm on the PGA tour. It's like a dream come true for me competing against the world's top golfers,” smiles the golfer, who is hoping he would compete against the greatest golfer of all times Tiger Woods himself one day. He credits his coach Sanjay Kumar Singh (Hyderabad), Jesse Grewal (Chandigarh), Muneer sir (fitness coach Hyderabad) and Sagar Diwan (fitness Coach Chandigarh). "Importantly, my whole family supported me and backed me throughout," says Hardik, for whom the Hyderabad Golf Association has been his home club, since he started his golf career from there.

Reading Time: 6 min

Shreya Nallamothu: Indian-American teen helps draft Illinois law for safeguarding child influencers

(August 30, 2023) Holed up at her home during the pandemic, like almost everyone, Shreya Nallamothu, too, took refuge in social media. The then 13-year-old was quick to notice that children, much younger than her, were nothing short of social media stars or kid influencers. While she didn't think much about it initially, but as her Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and TikTok pages kept populating with content by children, the Indian-American teen realised the kids can be victims of exploitation, in terms of monetisation of social media content. "I realised there was absolutely zero legislation in place to protect them," she told AP. This led her to campaign for amending child labour laws in Illinois, making it the first state in the country to create protections for minors showcased in online videos, including provisions for their compensation. [caption id="attachment_32788" align="aligncenter" width="626"] Shreya Nallamothu[/caption] The 16-year-old fondly remembers her parents capturing some of her firsts - first steps or first day at school on video camera, and is deeply grateful to them for keep these personal moments private. "It made me realize family vlogging is putting very private and intimate moments onto the internet," she said in an interview. Her parents always

This prompted the University High School student to work on an independent study to help child influencers. During the process, she explained that child influencers include any kids under 18 with their own social media accounts, not just those in family videos, and can earn a lot of money from their followers on TikTok, YouTube and other social media sites. "I definitely wanted to create policy and legislation around child influencers because I felt like Illinois could be kind of a trend setter and a precedent setter for this issue," added Shreya.

[caption id="attachment_32789" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Shreya Nallamothu[/caption]

She began conducting research on child influencers, and found that kid influencers accounts are run by their parents as kids can't set up in their names due to age restrictions on social media. What intrigued her what that due to the social media explosion, parents were using it to monetise kids being on videos. And realised that with money being made and nothing set aside for the kids, it was nothing short of child labour. "A lot of the time (the child influencers) are being forced by their parents to appear in videos, but then because they're a minor they don’t have access to any of that money," the Global Indian said in an interview.

That's when after her detailed research, she wrote a letter to her state senator, Democrat Dave Koehler, urging him to consider legislation to protect young influencers. Two weeks ago, inspired by Sherya's letter, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker approved a new law that changes the Child Labor Law in the state. This law lets teenagers who are 18 or older sue their parents if they appeared in videos on social media that made money, but they weren't paid fairly. This is like the rights that young actors have. July 1, 2024 onwards, parents in Illinois will need to save 50 percent of the money earned from a video for their child. This money will go into a special fund until the child turns 18, based on how much time the child is seen in the video.

Children "deserve to be shielded from parents who would attempt to take advantage of their child's talents and use them for their own financial gain," said Alex Gough, a spokesperson for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, after the governor signed the legislation.

Shreya's determination and awareness have brought about a significant change in Illinois. Recognising the exploitation faced by young influencers, this Indian-American teen took action to protect the rights and futures of children in the world of social media. By identifying a gap in legislation and sharing her concerns with Illinois state Senator David Koehler, Shreya set in motion a series of events that led to the proposed bill amendment. Her efforts demonstrate how the proactive actions of a single individual can catalyse positive change, ensuring a safer and fairer environment for child influencers and ultimately inspiring others to advocate for meaningful reforms.

Follow Shreya Nallamothu on LinkedIn

Reading Time: 4 min

Palak Muchhal: The playback singer on a mission to save little hearts

(May 12, 2023) Growing up in Indore, singer-philanthropist Palak Muchhal was perturbed by the sight of underprivileged children and those in need. At a very early age, she found she wanted to help them out somehow – she had a gift for singing and wanted to use it for good. In 1999, during the Kargil War, Palak, who was seven years old at the time, spent a week singing at the shops in Indore to raise funds for the families of deceased Indian soldiers. Amidst extensive local media coverage, she managed to raise ₹25,000. The success of this initiative motivated her to do more such work for the benefit of others. Later that year, Palak went on to raise funds for victims of the 1999 Odisha cyclone through her singing performances. Following these initiatives, people and social organisations who found themselves financially constrained, began approaching her to help raise funds. As she honed her skills, Palak’s singing talents took her to Bollywood, where she tasted success as a playback singer. She lent her voice to films like Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Aashiqui 2 (2013), Kick (2014), Action Jackson (2014) Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) Kaabil (2017), Baaghi 2 (2018) and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019). Her latest released song ‘Naiyo Lagda Dil’

;">Aashiqui 2 (2013), Kick (2014), Action Jackson (2014) Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story (2016) Kaabil (2017), Baaghi 2 (2018) and Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas (2019). Her latest released song ‘Naiyo Lagda Dil’ from Salman-starrer Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan has become a chartbuster upon its release this year.

[caption id="attachment_29953" align="aligncenter" width="651"] Palak Muchhal[/caption]

Despite her success in Bollywood, the Global Indian has not strayed from her original purpose. She collaborates with her lyricist-and-composer brother Palash Muchhal, to perform in India and abroad to raise funds for the needy.

The singer-philanthropist’s focus has been on raising funds for underprivileged children who need financial assistance for treatment of heart diseases. “Saving little hearts is the mission of my life. Every time I sing, a life is saved and what can be a bigger blessing than this,” Palak remarked in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Saving little hearts

While Palak was studying in Indore, she was approached by the teachers of a boy named Lokesh. He belonged to a poor family and required a heart surgery. Using a street vendor’s cart as a stage, Palak organised a cultural event and was able to raise ₹55,000. The publicity of her efforts prompted India’s renowned cardiologist, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty to operate Lokesh free of charge. That was in 2000, and the same year, Palak received Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her social service.

Lokesh’s heart ailment was an eye opener for Palak. She learned from experts that congenital heart disease is a major problem in the country. According to a 2021 study, over 2,00,000 children in India are born with congenital heart disease. Nearly one-fifth of these require surgery within a year of birth.

Since then, saving little hearts has become a mission of her life. Through her trademark show ‘Dil Se Dil Tak’ or ‘Save Little Hearts,’ Palak has helped close to 3,000 children suffering from heart diseases. “I knew I had a special blessing in the form of my talent, through which I could make a difference. I realised I could put smiles back on young faces through my singing,” Palak said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Palak Muchhal (@palakmuchhal3)

Reaching far and wide

Palak Muchhal's international performances have helped raise awareness about the importance of providing medical assistance to children suffering from heart ailments, not just in India but across the world. “I feel blessed by the fact that I have been able to bring smiles to faces. Music is not just a career for me, it's more than that,” she said in a Mid-Day interview.

The singer-philanthropist has performed in several countries across the world including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, and Dubai, among other countries to raise funds.

Other than charity, the singer-philanthropist has been part of several campaigns, lending her voice to causes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean Indian Campaign), Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save the Girl Child, Educate the Girl Child), and has also raised awareness about important issues like child marriage and domestic violence through her concerts.

Palak has also collaborated with several international artists to contribute to the causes she is close to. In 2014, she got an opportunity to perform at the United Nations headquarters in New York, to raise awareness about the issue of child marriage in India. She also performed at the Global Citizen Festival in New York in 2016, alongside international bands and artists such as Coldplay, Demi Lovato, and Ellie Goulding.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Palak Muchhal (@palakmuchhal3)

Getting recognition

The singer has made an entry in both the Guinness Book of World Records and Limca Book of World Records for her social work. She stands tall as an example to Indian youth and in 2021, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as well Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Education (MSBSHSE) has included her achievements in moral science lessons for students in grade seven.

“As a kid I would wonder, ‘why do some kids smile and some cry? Why can’t everybody be happy and had decided to do something about it since then,” Palak remarked.

Her efforts have been recognized globally, and she continues to use her talent and influence to make a positive impact on society. The philanthropist was conferred an honorary doctorate from the American University in the US, for promoting health and peace through Palak Muchhal Heart Foundation and thousands of concerts across the globe. She also received the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award in the best playback singer category in 2022.

Follow Palak Muchhal on Instagram and Twitter

Reading Time: 5 mins

Bending it like Huzaib: Kashmiri footballer Shah has mastered 400 trick-shots

(March 17, 2022) On a sunny day in 2016, a bored Shah Huzaib casually stepped out of his home in Charar-e-Shareef in central Kashmir's Budgam district when he spotted three friends playing football. They asked him to fill in as a goalkeeper. It was a time when Kashmir was witnessing violence following the Burhan Wani killing which led to the closure of schools, internet shut down and several restrictions. [caption id="attachment_12737" align="aligncenter" width="780"] Shah Huzaib, footballer and trick-shot artiste[/caption] A few kicks and playing goalkeeper later, Huzaib felt drawn towards the sport. Before he knew it, the sport had become a passion. For the next two years, he fine-tuned his skills and built a reputation as a football trick-short artiste. Over a period of time, the Kashmiri lad mastered 400 different types of trick-shots, which won hearts across the internet. His mind boggling trickery took him to newer heights after the freestyle footballer got shoutouts from Indian football team skipper Bhaichung Bhutia, sports minister Kiren Rijiju, Bollywood star Suniel Shetty and more recently, from Real Madrid and Germany footballer Toni Kroos, who shared a video of Huzaib's trick-shots. Amazing Trick Shots; Keep up the good work Shah! #keepgoing pic.twitter.com/zKaTWnH9Et —

od star Suniel Shetty and more recently, from Real Madrid and Germany footballer Toni Kroos, who shared a video of Huzaib's trick-shots.

Amazing Trick Shots; Keep up the good work Shah! #keepgoing pic.twitter.com/zKaTWnH9Et

— Bhaichung Bhutia (@bhaichung15) March 3, 2021

"My aim is to make trick-shots popular in India. I will be seeking help from the Indian Army to take trick-shots to every nook and corner of the country. I want to represent Kashmir and India on the international level someday," Huzaib tells Global Indian. The most recent feather in his cap was when he was selected for India's Got Talent season 9, for which he travelled to Delhi. "All the appreciation made me work harder," he says.

[caption id="attachment_12736" align="aligncenter" width="819"] Shah Huzaib, trick-shot artiste[/caption]

Footie, and its beautiful shots

Before the football bug bit him, Huzaib, like a majority of Indians, was a die-hard cricket fan. Born in January 2002, his love affair with cricket began as a kindergartner. "I used to watch a lot of matches on TV, and watching Virat Kohli play led me to play cricket. I used to go to the local stadium every Friday and Sunday for matches," informs the 20-year-old, whose father is in the fruit business, and mother a homemaker.

[caption id="attachment_12734" align="aligncenter" width="853"] Shah Huzaib, trick-shot artiste[/caption]

As he switched to football in 2016 after his chance introduction to the sport, Huzaib took the game a notch higher. Watching Cristiano Ronaldo on YouTube and other trick-shots videos, he was quick to buy a pair of football shoes, and practice rigorously. Thereafter, it was trick-shots all the way. "Of the 400 trick-shots I've mastered, some are very difficult, requiring focus and regular practice," smiles the youngster, who schooled at Life School Kashmir and later at Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Charar-e-Sharif.

As he first burst onto the scene with his trick-shots, Huzaib received a lot of attention from Kashmiris. Soon the Kashmiri media took note of his talent and the resultant exposure motivated him to further hone his skills. Huzaib then got featured on a popular YouTube page, wherein his trick shots fetched him five million views. He went on to be featured on several other platforms including Oh My Goal, Sportskeeda, and Wion, etc.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Suniel Shetty (@suniel.shetty)

Religious with his practice, Huzaib ensures he gets in one hour of practice each day. “For each trick-shot, the skills required are different. The sport requires patience and hardwork and no one can learn or perform them overnight," says the young lad, who hopes to get government support take up football as a full-time profession.

Trick-shots, says Huzaib, connected him with the world too. "The government needs to work more on sportspersons and provide them with the facilities to encourage and promote their talent. Only then can many here take up sports and do something meaningful, especially in Kashmir," feels the youngster. "For now, my family and friends support me and share my work," says Huzaib, who was preparing for his class 10 examinations when the Centre abrogated Article 370, which plunged Kashmir into chaos and uncertainty.

The talent to kick-off

When Huzaib got a call from India's Got Talent team, he was on cloud nine. "I travelled to Delhi in October 2021 for auditions. I got an opportunity to interact with immensely talented people from across the country. Delhi has a lot of opportunities for talented people when compared to Kashmir," says the trick-shot artiste, who likes to watch movies in his free time.

"Early on in life, I was often confused whether I should become a cricketer or a doctor. But now, my life revolves around football," smiles the trick-shot artiste, who aims to make it big in the sport.

While Huzaib continues to make waves with his skills, the youngster has had to face quite a few challenges. He now hopes for far more recognition. "Government support apart, even society does not appreciate or support what I do. Even the footballing scenario is not very developed," he rues.

Follow Shah Huzaib on Twitter

Reading Time: 5 min

Brothers on a mission: How Vishal and Ishan Vijay are tackling child poverty across borders

(November 12, 2024) In 2012, a then 12-year-old Vishal Vijay returned to Oakville, Ontario, from what was supposed to be a simple family trip to India. But what he and his younger brother, Ishan Vijay, saw during their visit to Faridabad changed their lives forever. The two brothers, used to the comforts of suburban Canada, came face-to-face with children living in extreme poverty. For Vishal, it was impossible to shake off the image of kids his age begging on the streets. "This girl was begging on the side of the street. How is it that she is in this situation and that I'm not? I thought that's really unfair, and I need to do something about this," he recalled. [caption id="attachment_40317" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Vishal Vijay[/caption] Planting the Seeds of Change Upon returning home to Oakville, Vishal and Ishan Vijay didn't just talk about what they had seen; they acted. Together, they formed Children in Action, a small group of friends who raised funds to support education and essential needs for disadvantaged kids. Their first fundraiser — a bake sale — raised just under $400. "We were over-the-moon ecstatic, and we knew that we had to keep going, and that there

sed funds to support education and essential needs for disadvantaged kids. Their first fundraiser — a bake sale — raised just under $400. "We were over-the-moon ecstatic, and we knew that we had to keep going, and that there were more kids that needed our help," Vishal said. What started as a small youth group soon evolved into Every Child Now (ECN), a youth-run nonprofit focused on alleviating child poverty and empowering young people.

Building Hope, One Step at a Time

Since its founding, Every Child Now has grown beyond anything the brothers imagined. They've raised over $100,000 and launched projects that have touched thousands of lives. Their efforts include building a schoolhouse in Rajasthan, providing clean water in Sierra Leone, and distributing school supplies to disadvantaged children. "We focus on providing children and their families with their five basic needs: education, food, clean drinking water, shelter, and health care," Vishal explained in an interview. The brothers' impact stretches from the streets of India to communities across Canada.

"We need to realize that we are a part of a global community." - @EveryChild_Now's Vishal & Ishan Vijay #WEareCanada https://t.co/9x72VkudHW pic.twitter.com/luZBjzUmof

— WE (@WEMovement) April 19, 2017

While their work started with a focus on India, the Vijays soon realised poverty wasn’t confined to one place. “This affects kids all around the world. We quickly realized this was not something that was isolated to the communities that we have visited,” Vishal said. Domestically, they’ve helped indigenous communities and children in need by providing school supplies and running educational workshops. Through partnerships and persistent fundraising, the nonprofit has supported projects in Canada, India, Nepal, and West Africa, helping provide essential resources, from clean water and education to health care and shelter. Their efforts led them to receive Junior Citizen Awards in 2015 from the then Lt Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

Indians living in Canada, like the Vijay brothers, are contributing immensely to their communities. Canada’s Indian diaspora is known for its resilience, cultural contributions, and commitment to social welfare. For Vishal and Ishan Vijay, this connection to their heritage has fueled their work both locally and abroad.

[caption id="attachment_40318" align="aligncenter" width="788"] Vishal Vijay teaching students[/caption]

Adapting to New Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic brought new obstacles. With schools closed, the educational gap widened. The brothers knew they had to adapt. "When the pandemic first hit, we were really noticing this divide that was starting to occur in education, where many children didn't have access to the resources and support that they needed at home," the Global Indian said. They responded by launching Social Educating, a program connecting kids in grades 4 to 8 with university students who tutor them online for free. This initiative helped bridge the gap for many Canadian students struggling with remote learning.

The brothers believe that engaging youth is key to sustainable change. Vishal has spoken at youth conferences across North America, emphasizing that young people have the power to make a difference now, not just in the future. "Young people aren't just our future; they’re our present, too," he often says.

Every Child Now is guided by three pillars: inspire, advocate, and impact. “When it comes to sustainable development and activism, collaboration is incredibly important. There is a shared sense of passion and belief in the mission,” Vishal said. He understands that tackling child poverty and promoting youth empowerment isn’t easy, but he and Ishan remain determined.

Vishal who graduated from Western University’s Ivey Business School has been blending his passion for social impact with strategic thinking. His goal is to bring purpose-driven missions into whatever he does.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TiEN56ljX0

A Lasting Impact

What started as a small, heartfelt effort by two brothers to help kids they saw in Faridabad has blossomed into a movement. They know there’s still more work to be done, but they’re not backing down. “We discovered that a lot of young Canadians are really interested in social impact. I think of us as the Purpose Generation,” Vishal said.

For Vishal and Ishan, the journey from a dusty street in India to building a nonprofit that inspires youth worldwide proves one simple thing: change can begin with a single act, as long as you’re brave enough to take that first step.

Follow Ishan Vijay on LinkedIn