Sahara Shaik has become a leader to her peers and made lasting impacts on the community. With over 20,000 volunteer hours logged, she has given her time in nursing homes, as a mentor and coach for children with special needs and supported people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side neighbourhood.
In 2017, Sahara became an advocate within the cooperative housing movement for lower-income Canadians, often newcomers to Canada. Through personal discovery, she identified the need for more co-operative housing models. Sahara sits on the Board of Directors for the Co-operative Housing Federation of British Columbia (CHF BC) and Canada (CHF Canada). In her work through the CHF, Sahara supports the accessibility of housing for people who are struggling to find affordable homes. Never afraid to roll up her sleeves and help out, Sahara continues to be hands on with all of her projects.