Sahir Shivji

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Leading them to water Youngster joins walk to give Third World communities a hand



Brian Giebelhaus photo

Sahir Shivji has single-handedly raised more than $2,200 for World Partnership Walk.


By Tracy Holmes
Staff Reporter

Sahir Shivji is a typical seven-year-old in many ways.
He's full of energy, loves cartoons, and is thrilled by how much air he can catch bouncing on the family's leather couch.
Among his favourite activities is playing Super Mario Advanced on GameBoy, and he dreams one day of travelling into space.
Ask him what he wants for his next birthday, however, and the answer is not so typical.

More than toys or the latest cartridge for that GameBoy, he wants cash he can donate to help people in developing countries improve their water supply-water that will help them grow crops, and live a better life.
He's so turned-on to the idea of helping others, Sahir has rallied friends, family and classmates to participate in World Partnership Walk May 30 at Vancouver's Lumberman's Arch.
With five others on his Kids for Global Awareness team, he's raised $3,200.
Sahir's charm and enthusiasm alone inspired donations of $2,200-more than double his goal of $1,000.

Organizers were so impressed with his eloquence in public speaking, they enlisted Sahir to give presentations promoting the fundraiser. He's spoken to members of three Ismali mosques, to his school, and in front of 150 parents at Northview Golf and Country Club.
The walk is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation Canada, which supports alleviating poverty by empowering people to help themselves.
Now in its 20th year, the walk is held annually in 10 Canadian communities, attracting 60,000 people. Last year, 5,000 walkers in Vancouver raised $700,000. This year, the goal is $1 million.
All funds go to projects for people in Asia and Africa.
"It's a very good cause and it goes to help Third World countries," Sahir said.

"It's going to get them water and help them grow crops."
Sahir's been practicing to "definitely" complete the three-kilometre walk.
"And I might go a little bit over," he said.

For his parents, Shanaz and Salim Shivji, Sahir's involvement in the walk is about more than a walk.

It follows their philosophy of teaching their children social consciousness-that life is about giving of yourself, and sharing what you have.
"The main goal here is to inspire him," Salim said.
Born in Tanzania, Salim has seen the good that comes of such efforts. As a boy, he accessed services that benefited from funds raised through AKFC.

"We want to encourage our kids: 'Where we are today is due to the assistance we received back home. Otherwise, we would not be here,'" Salim said.
"It's really a small world."

The World Partnership Walk is open to anyone who wants to join. There is both a three- and seven-kilometre route. The walk leaves Lumberman's Arch at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 30.