Harrow News
Eight year old Harrow boy makes "remarkable difference" to Atlantan based charity
9:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012
An eight-year-old boy who is “wise beyond his years” is making a “remarkable difference” to a charity by organising fundraisers for people in need around the world.
Anay Sharma, of Georgian Close, Stanmore, is involved in international charity Coast 2 Coast, a youth movement based in Atlanta, USA, that inspires young people all across the world to lead local projects that promote social justice and equity.
He was inspired to get involved with the scheme after meeting family friend, Arjun Sahgal, who lives in Atlanta and set the charity up.
Anay, who dreams of becoming an inventor, said: “The scheme helps people around the world who need some help, there’s no limit to who we help or what we try to do.
"I thought it was a really good campaign so I decided to ask some of my friends to see if they wanted to get involved in the scheme, too.
"For our first project, we heard about a Somalian woman called Faduma who suffered from burns so severe that they covered 99 per cent of her body. We made her get well soon cards because we thought it would make her smile.
"We also made cupcakes and my friend, Arjun and I went door-to-door selling them. We managed to raise £100. I was really overwhelmed how generous everyone was.”
The Arsenal supporter decided that for the next campaign, he and his friends would raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital in central London.
Anay explained: “I chose Great Ormond Street because I was looking at their website and felt really heartbroken about what some kids have to go through. I decided I wanted to do something to help.
"I help out with chores around the house and my mum gives me £2 per chore, which I put into my purple collection box that Great Ormond Street sent me.
"They are hoping to build a new wing for their hospital, and I hope that a little bit of money will go a long way for them.”
This isn’t the first time Anay has helped the children’s hospital - when he was five, he donated his unopened Christmas presents.
He has also been in contact with David Cameron asking for advice about how to broaden his campaign, and has been invited to meet Tim Loughton, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children later this year.
He said: “I was speechless when I received the letter, and I’m so excited to meet Mr Loughton and get campaign ideas from him - that’s going to be such an amazing experience.”
His mother, Shadja Sharma, praised her son for being “wise beyond his years".
She said: “At eight years old he’s doing so much to help others, he is so wise beyond his years. I am very excited to see everything he is going to achieve with the campaign. I think he’s made a remarkable difference so far and I’m sure that will continue.”