If I were to create a poster for Free the Children, I would use this photograph. I think that it conveys Free the Children's message that anyone can help out, despite their age. It also shows the strong connection shared by all humans, despite their age, financial situation, location, race, or language. Even though these kids are so different age wise, location wise, financially, and most likely linguistically, you can tell that they truly love and respect one another. Even though the children in this picture are so young, they are making a huge impact, and making the world a better place. It truly shows how anyone can make a difference no matter how old, or young they are!

Hey everyone! The pageant is approaching really quickly, so I'd like to tell you a bit more about it. The Miss Teen Canada-World 2009 pageant is a pageant held in Toronto featuring girls from all over Canada! It is on July 25th, and will ibe hosted by Degrassi: The Next Generation's Paula Brancati and Adamo Ruggeiro and include musical performances by Divine Brown, and Gary Beals! The delegates who score in the top three for the Talent competition will also be performing. So whether you are interested in being in this pageant next year and want to check it out, or are looking for a fun and new event to attend, the evening should be very exciting! To purchase tickets, please follow this link.

I fundraised for Free the Children by selling squash, cabbage and lettuce seeds. I chose to sell seeds because Free the Children provides people in third world countries with the means to be self sufficent. They don't find temporary solutions for poverty, they make permanent solutions in helping stop cycles of poverty. In total, I made $412.00! I was proud that so many people were willing to give to this amazing charity!

 Fundraising for FTC!

I was invited to make an appearance at Timothy’s Worldwide Coffee, a local coffee shop recently. When I found out that they support fair trade, and have a wide selection of fair trade coffees I knew that I would definitely be going!

I made a little information card to hand out to customers to thank them for purchasing fair trade coffee, and more ways they can support fair trade.

 These are the information cards I handed out

One customer asked for four more information cards, because she wanted to give them to her friends and daughter. I felt really good that people wanted to spread the word of the importance of fair trade!

 Me with some customers

A few days ago, I went to the Red River Co-op Speedway to hand out trophies to the winning race car drivers. It was so much fun! It was my first time going to a race car track, and it definitely won't be my last! Before each race started I would choose the car that I would root for. I rooted for car #3 and truck #17, for the simple reason that they were pink!

 The cars were going really fast!

Neither of the cars I was cheering for won, but it sure was fun anticipating the outcome of the race, and how my cars would do. I got to hand out trophies to the winners, and picked the winning tickets for the raffle. Picking the numbers was cool, because the winners were really happy with me!

 Me picking the winning raffle tickets

I'd have to say that my favorite part of the evening was when the announcer said "Now, coming down to present the winning driver with their trophy is Miss Teen Winnipeg-World, Anjali Sandhu!" because everyone cheered for me, it was so cool! I hate to sound like a broken record, but I think it's more of that 'Friendly Manitoba' spirit! I loved it at the speedway, and who knows, when I go back, maybe it'll be as a race car driver (with a pink car of course!)

A few days ago, I did a meet and greet in the Cardiac Ward at the St. Boniface Hospital. I wanted to do this because four years ago my Nana (grandpa) had cardiac surgery, and when my family and I would visit him in the hospital, my mom and dad would always spend time talking to my nana's roommate who was also recovering from surgery. At the time, my mom explained to me that she and my dad liked to spend time with him because unlike my nana, he did not have many visitors. Three years ago my other grandpa also had cardiac surgery. I think that it helps speed up recovery if you have lots of support, that's why I was thrilled when I found out that I could visit the patients at the ward.  I brought a big basket of pink, red, and white daisies for the patients. I was allowed to go with the nurses and give out the flowers. The nurses were very nice, and I really admire how they really get to know each and every one of the their patients, and take the time to visit with each one of them every day. So even if they don't have many visitors, they still have lots of support! All the patients were so friendly, you would never even know that they were ill. Every single one of them had a positive and bright attitude. I guess that it just ties in with the whole 'Friendly Manitoba' slogan! I had so much fun talking to the patients and giving them flowers. They seemed very happy to see me, and some patients even wanted my autograph! I was really glad that I was able to make them smile, and hopefully brighten up their day. I know that I would never want my nana to have to recover in the hospital alone without visitors, so it was special for me to have the opportunity to do this.

 Waiting to go up and see the patients!                                                                Me with the nursing staff!

July 11th was a very fun and exciting day! I was invited to speak at the annual Caribbean community picnic. The picnic was full of fun games, cool prizes, and delicious food!

 This is me helping to set out prizes!

I gave the opening speech. The speech was about my platform, fair trade. It felt really good to tell people about the benefits of fair trade, because it is something I believe in deeply, and would like to promote.

The picnic ended off with homemade snow cones. It was really interesting how they were made from scratch by shaving ice off of a big ice cube, and adding syrup and condensed milk to it!

 Making yummy snow cones from scratch!

After the picnic I went to the local YMCA because it was my little sister, Antara's 13th birthday and she wanted to celebrate it there. I have two little sisters, the other one is Anaka. My parents decided to name us as with "AN" names, and their names both start with "SU". It's kind of dorky, but kind of cool at the same time! Anywho, after we went to the YMCA, we went to an arcade called Fun F/X. I won the jackpot on this football game twice, and I won 25 of my favorite treats...mini tootsie rolls!

 Rock Climbing at the YMCA           

  Playing Basket Ball at the YMCA with Antara, and my cousin (he's only 13, but he's taller than me!)

  Me with the football game and my tootsie rolls!

All in all, it was a pretty great day, and I can't wait to have another one just like it!