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Arihant Boli finalist for Canada’s Loran Award
Boli is among the 90 finalists in the race to secure a scholarship worth over $100,000.
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Arihant Boli started his advocacy at the age of 13 / LetsStopAIDS
A 17-year-old teenager from Brampton, Ontario, has been named as a finalist for Canada’s Loran Award for his HIV/AIDS advocacy.
Chosen from among 5,200 candidates, Arihant Boli is selected as the winner will receive a scholarship valued at over CAD 100,000 (US$ 74,118). The award grants a four-year scholarship to undergraduate students emphasizing character, service, and leadership.
A drive to challenge stereotypes
Boli’s journey into HIV advocacy began at the age of 13 with LetsStopAIDS, which was founded by Shamin Mohamed Jr in 2004. However, he was confronted with resistance due to stigmas and taboos.
Reflecting on his early days, Boli shared the challenges he faced in breaking away from his family’s values. “I told my mom about the opportunity to become an HIV advocate, and her exact response was ‘you are crazy if you think we are going to allow you to do this!’” he recalled.
His advocacy with LetsStopAIDS wasn’t just about rebellion but about fostering discussions, teaching, and transforming societal challenges into meaningful conversations. “My action was to turn our prejudices into engagement, to involve ourselves in bigger dialogues. That’s what makes this group so inspiring,” Boli added.
The teenager is also the creator of a mobile application, called ‘SexWell,’ which uses machine learning and provides its users with a sexual health calendar.
The final leg of the competition, featuring 90 contenders, will take place at the BMO IFL Centre from February 23-25, 2024.
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