The Donor: Sean Lamba
The Gift: Creating Everyday Child
The Cause: To develop educational programs in India
When Sean Lamba was 12, he came across an informercial on television that left a deep impression. The program involved a charity that focused on helping impoverished children around the world.
"I was thinking to myself that these kids are no different than myself, they just lack certain opportunities," Mr. Lamba, now 29, recalled from his home in Toronto.
He carried on with his life, eventually starting a financial services company that led him to work in India. But he never forgot that infomercial and promised himself that one day he would start a charity to help children in developing countries.
His chance finally came in 2011, amid difficult circumstances. Mr. Lamba returned to Toronto from India to care for his father who had become ill. Once home, he decided it was time to drop his for-profit venture and focus on his not-for-profit objective.
He decided to focus on education and soon launched Everyday Child, a charity committed to building learning centres in countries such as India. The centres would offer children a range of practical courses that will help them earn a living and take care of themselves. He hopes to link the centres to professionals in Canada who can offer courses via computer. For example, a dentist in Toronto could teach basic oral hygiene.
Mr. Lamba is trying to raise $150,000 to open and operate Everyday Child's first centre in Mumbai. So far he has raised more than $65,000 and hopes to have the remainder this month.
"It has been a good journey," he said explaining the long road to getting the charity started. "It has not been easy, it has been challenging, as any entrepreneur will tell you … But when you are passionate about something, you give it your heart and your all."
Paul Waldie