Yamesha Ranatunga - 2009 Global Citizen Kelowna Youth Award
2009 saw the presentation of the first Global Citizen Kelowna Youth Award.
YAMESHA RANATUNGA, a grade 12 student from Kelowna Secondary School was the deserving recipient.
Yamesha believes that education is critical to end the cycle of poverty and has demonstrated exceptional leadership amongst her peers in promoting the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
Her many accomplishments include:
* Founding the 'Build an Education Club' at her school
* Organizing the shipment of used eye glasses to those who need them overseas
* Building a shelter for the visually impaired in Sri Lanka
* Educating Sri Lankans on the importance of sanitation
* Raising over $5,000.00 for Tsunami victims
* Being one of only ten students from British Columbia and the Yukon to participate in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's High School Summer Research Programme.