Sanya’s Story

The Story of How it Started

From very a young age, I used to worry about kids who do not have a mother and father. I used to wonder who feeds them. Who gives them clothes, especially in winter? Who keeps them warm and who reads them stories at night?

One night, I peeked in my mother’s office, she was watching a YouTube video clip of children suffering due to war; I saw a girl who looked younger than me sitting on the ground with torn cloths, no shoes, immense sadness and fear in her eyes. I was sad, angry and worried for her. I ran away to my room. Her sad eyes told me “Help me.”

Later, my mother had asked me what was bothering me. I told her that I saw that girl who was sitting on the ground on the YouTube video. Was it real? “Why did she look so sad and helpless?” My mother reluctantly explained that the girl perhaps lost her family and might not have anyone to care for her. I immediately asked, “Why? Mother, didn’t you tell me God loves everyone?”

My Mother replied, “Of course.”

“So why some people extremely poor and others are not?” I asked.

My Mother replied, “God created people like you and others who are passionate about helping God’s children.”

That night my mother’s words became real to me. I decided I needed to do something big to help others. Now the question in my mind was what should I do that will not only have a big impact but also to inspire my friends to collaborate with me.

The next morning I woke up early and started googling the ways to help. I came across a website that explained how I could feed a village of 100 people for one year.

Boy I was thrilled! I couldn’t wait to tell my mother. When I told my plans to her she said, “How about start with feeding one child first?”

I looked at my mother and said you told me, “I could reach for the star in me.” Mother knew at this point that nothing could stop me.

Awards, Honors, and Certificates

  1. 2022-Community Action Partnership Ambassador Award.
  2. 2022- Prior Lake High School Varsity Letter Award-Speech.
  3. 2022- PLHS Speech Team – Captain’s Certificate of Excellence.
  4. 2022- PLHS Speech- Finalist Ribbon
  5. 2022-PLHS Speech- Original Oratory -Varsity 7th place
  6. 2022-Hershey Heartwarming Action Grant.
  7. 2021-The Congressional Awards. Bronze Certificate, Silver Certificate, Gold Certificate, and Bronze Medal.
  8.  2021-Changemaker Award.
  9. 2021-MAVA Award for Excellence in Volunteerism.
  10. 2021- Piano Comprehensive Exam 3- Passed with High Distinction.
  11. 2021-First Place in Original Oratory Varsity finals at the Mankato East Speech Fiesta!
  12. 2021-Second place at Eagle Invitational.
  13. 2021- Sixth place at the Prior Lake Tournament.
  14. 2021- Sixth place at Speech Madness.
  15. 2021-Sixth Place at South St Paul
  16. 2021-Honorable mention for the NSDA.
  17. 2021-Second Place winner for Zone competition /Glen Lake Optimist Club Oratorical Competition.
  18. 2021-First Place winner for Glen Lake Optimist Club Oratorical Competition.
  19. 2021- Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Award Winner
  20. 2021-Hershey Heartwarming Project Action Award Winner
  21. 2020-21 ZERO HUNGER HERO Gold Award.
  22. 2020-21 National Community Service Awards -Honor Award
  23. 2020-Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz recognized Sanya’s Hope For Children for its efforts to prevent and alleviate hunger.
  24. 2020-American Red Cross Youth Hero’s Award from the Minnesota Region.
  25. 2020-First Place winner for Glen Lake Optimist Club oratorical competition.
  26. 2020-The Walmart Community Grants Award winner. 
  27. 2020- World Nice Grant Winner ($200 grant was awarded to Sanya’s Hope For Children).
  28. 2020-First Place winner for Glen Lake Optimist Club oratorical competition.
  29. 2020-Certificate of Excellence from the Prudential Spirit of Community Award Program.
  30. 2020-Third Place winner for PL Optimist Club essay writing competition.
  31. 2020-Allina Health “Dollars for Doer Reward” 
  32. 2020-WE Heartwarming Project Action Award.
  33. 2020-Figure Skating-Excel Beginner Competition Medal.
  34. 2019- Certificate of Recognition from Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz.
  35. 2019- Proclamation from Prior Lake City “Sanya’s Hope For Children’s Giving Week”
  36. 2019-The Ann Bancroft Foundation (ABF)! “Let Me Play grant” Winner ($500 for figure skating).
  37. 2019-Presidential Volunteer Service Award. (Gold Medal and Certificate).
  38. 2019-The Walmart Community Grants Award ($1000 for SHFC).
  39. 2019-District Oratorical Speech contest recognition.
  40. 2019-Oratorical speech Zone competition winner.
  41. 2019- Unilever Bright Future Award winner!
  42. 2019-Voice Magazine Special Recognition.
  43. 2019-We Grant for a service project.
  44. 2019-Principal Honor Roll-Hidden Oaks Middle School. 7th Grade
    2018- Point of light award.
  45. 2018- Presidential Award winner-Gold medalist.
  46. 2019-Prudential award-Distinguished Finalists for their impressive community service.
  47. 2018- Laker’s Pride Award-Hidden Oaks Middle School.
  48. 2018- Principal Honor Roll-Hidden Oaks Middle School.-6th Grade -Second semester.
  49. 2018- All-Star Team Certificate from Hidden Oaks Middle School.
  50. 2018- Selfless Community Service Recognition by World Nice Organization.
  51. 2018-Prudential Spirit of Community honoree in the community-Presidential Service Award Gold Medal presented by HOMS Principal.
  52. 2018-YSA (Youth Service America) grant recipient for Hunger Project.
  53. 2018- Principal Honor Roll-Hidden Oaks Middle School. 6th Grade -first semester.
  54. 2018- First Place at Oratorical speech contest. (Medal).
  55. 2017- First Place at Oratorical speech contest. (Gold Medal).
  56. 2017 –Presidential Volunteer Service Award. (Gold Medal and Certificate).
  57. 2017 -Senator Klobuchar send recorded video appreciation for organizing “Head Start Awareness” and for Diaper drive for Head Start Families.
  58. 2017- Sanya Pirani founded Sanya’s Hope For Children –A nonprofit organization.
  59. 2017–Sanya’s Hope For Children officially become a member of the Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce.
  60. 2017- Volleyball game completion Medal.
  61. 2017 – Sanya was appointed as mayor for Biz Town by her teacher and colleagues (Jeffers Pond Elementary school).
  62. 2017– CAP Agency President Joseph Vaughan came to support Sanya’s Hope for Children 500 Christmas Bag project for homeless children.
  63. 2017- Disney Summer service grant recipient via YSA (Youth Service America).
  64. 2016 –Second Place at Oratorical speech contest. (Bronze medal).
  65. 2016 –Oratorical speech contest-Zone 10. (Recognition of excellence in oratorical contest-Certificate).
  66. 2016 –Presidential Volunteer Service Award. (Gold Medal and Certificate).
  67. 2016 –Youth Leadership Award from Community Action Partnership Agency for Scott, Dakota, and Carver county).
  68. 2016- Senator Klobuchar and CAP Agency President Joseph Vaughan Physically came to support Sanya for her Christmas bag project for homeless children.
  69. 2015- AFP (Association of fundraising professionals) Exceptional youth in philanthropy award.
  70. 2015-CAP (community action partnership) agency nomination of Youth Ambassador for Scott, Carver, and Dakota County.
  71. 2015- Food Hero Award from Feed My Starving Children.
  72. 2015- Received appreciation to service letter from President of United States Barack Obama. President also sends signed photos.
  73. 2015- Youth Appreciation Certificate from Optimist Club.
  74. 2015 –Star of the North Award from John Klein.
  75. 2015- Excellent Service to the community from Governor Dayton.
  76. 2014-Laker’s Pride Award from Prior Lake School District.

 

Hobbies

Sanya loves to write stories and hopes to get one of her books published soon. Some of her poems and songs have been published in local the newspaper. Sanya loves figure skating. public speaking, essay writing, cooking, baking, sewing, reading books, drawing, hand lettering, writing stories, swimming, playing the piano as well as clarinet, volunteering at various organizations, and likes to play volleyball.

 

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