FOUNDER

Mahek Sagoo is the founder of Step by Step Foundation, a nonprofit organization. She is a grade 12 student at Centennial CVI in Guelph, pursuing her OSSD. She plans to graduate in 2021. Throughout her 4 years at Centennial CVI Mahek has been involved with Link Crew to help grade 9’s have a smooth transition into high school. She is the Vice - President of DECA a worldwide business club. As well as Model UN, Mock Trials, the baseball team, multiple intramural teams such as floor hockey and ultimate frisbee. She is a CPA ambassador. She is also a business Specialist High Skills Major. She is the ambassador for the School events Council who plan school events throughout the school year. 

As a young child, Mahek realized that she didn’t like what she saw when she was walking through the streets – whether that was in Guelph or the GTA. She didn’t like seeing how many people were affected by poverty. Seeing people struggle, when she knew there were opportunities to help, didn’t sit well with her. She wanted to make a change, and sought out ways to do that. 

In grade 9, she was told that as she grew she would have to make a choice – either be a follower, or a leader. Through conversation, it is apparent she chose the latter. Through her experiences, and observations she felt a “pull” to make a difference; ultimately, her goal is to eliminate poverty and help the homeless. Any big change starts with a small step, so she took the first step to being the change.

Prior to COVID-19, Mahek was a volunteer at the Welcome-In Drop-In Centre, and through working there she felt immense feelings of joy seeing how her actions were helping people. In addition, she was amazed – actually astonished – by the amount of individuals who accessed the drop-in centre. People from all ways of life, all different personalities – and she was saddened by how many people didn’t have access to what should be a basic human right; access to housing.

She had planned on volunteering at the HOPE House in March 2020, but with the untimely pandemic that has been put on hold. That, however, didn’t stop her from finding a way to give back. (Lakeside Hope House)

Mahek began a GoFundMe page, in May 2020 with a goal of $200. With this $200 she would buy food items to donate to the HOPE House. In less than 12 hours of releasing the fundraiser, Mahek was able to raise $800 with the help of community members. The same week, Mahek was recognized by the Mayor of Guelph, Cam Guthrie - the Mayor asked to make a video with Mahek to post on his Socials about her fundraiser. The video soon went up on the Mayor's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The following day the radio station Magic 106.1 kindly asked if Mahek would like to do an interview on air - the interview aired the next day. The Lakeside HOPE House also featured Mahek on their website in a blog. Due to all of the community's tributes Mahek was able to donate a $2,500 cheque to Lakeside HOPE House including a generous $215 worth of food courtesy of the Sagoo family.

As a child, it became Mahek’s dream to open up her own nonprofit organization to help end homelessness in the future. This dream she planned to make a reality in the future. Although after her fundraiser in 2020 she realized, no one is ever too young to make a change and if we all work together we can eventually end homelessness. This led her to open up her own nonprofit as soon as she possibly could.