About Us

LetsStopAIDS is a registered Canadian charitable organization that inspires youth to take action within their local communities, relating to HIV and AIDS.

LetsStopAIDS was officially founded in 2004 by Shamin Mohamed Jr, with a small group of high school students that decided to take on a challenge. The challenge kept on increasing which created a specific goal: to inspire youth affected by HIV to take action in their local communities.

We are an organization that encourages youth to be involved with this cause. Our goal is not only to educate children with HIV but also to educate others to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Our long-term goal is to create a global network of youth HIV peer educators. We plan to help children and youth with HIV to live their life as a kid and not miss out on their childhood.

Mandate and Objectives

Our long-term goal is to create a global network of youth HIV peer educators. We plan to help children and youth with HIV to live their life as a kid and not miss out on their childhood.

SHARE: Experiences, stories, cultures, ideas, information Share information and knowledge relating to HIV and AIDS with your friends

INSPIRE: Individuals and communities Inspire individuals in your community to take action

CREATE: Opportunities and initiatives for positive change Help us create a global network of youth HIV peer educators by getting involved

In Canada, our main activities include raising awareness for HIV and AIDS through youth-oriented media outlets and combining fundraising initiatives with education by running an event entitled “The 24 Hour Wake” at schools across Canada.

Past Projects

In 2007, LetsStopAIDS launched the 24 Hour Wake, which is a national educational and fundraising event where participants from coast-to-coast stay awake for 24 hours to promote HIV awareness and to generate greater interest towards local and international issues relating to the global HIV epidemic.

LetsStopAIDS sent a team of volunteers to South Africa in July, 2008, to conduct workshops with enthusiastic youths in a number of poverty-stricken communities. This project served as a pilot for the new campaign called “Spread Trees, Not AIDS”.

LetsStopAIDS sent delegates to the 17th International AIDS Conference, from August 3-8 in Mexico City. At the conference, the delegates were able to receive information on the latest in HIV and AIDS research and reconnect with organizations that were met at the AIDS 2006 conference, while making many more new connections as well.

In July 2009, LetsStopAIDS launched the Spread Trees, Not AIDS programme in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. The programme has sent international youth ambassadors to South African communities as a result of environmental degradation and HIV infection. LetsStopAIDS' international youth ambassadors lead educational workshops that highlighted the connection between HIV and the environment and empower South African youth to take action to be leaders in their communities.

Our Leadership Team

Shamin Mohamed Jr
Founder & President

Shamin Mohamed Jr. is 21 years old, in the Honours Baccalaureate of Health Sciences program at the University of Ottawa. Shamin is born in Toronto with a Guyanese background. He is the founder and president of the national charity, LetsStopAIDS. Shamin lives by his motto, “All it takes it one action to make one dream a reality.”

When Shamin was fifteen, he was devastated to learn about the death of children through HIV and AIDS. He wanted to make a difference and prove that youth have a strong impact on society. At the age of fifteen, Shamin founded LetsStopAIDS with a small group of high school students. Shamin has been an inspirational speaker to thousands of youth across Canada, South Africa, China and India promoting the message that youth can truly make a difference. Shamin, who has always been keen to take action and make a difference, started LetsStopAIDS from an idea, which has now evolved into a national charitable organization.

Shamin Mohamed Jr. is a recipient of the DAREarts Leadership award and is one of the 2005 Canada’s ‘Top 20 Under 20’ for innovation, leadership and achievement. He has been the president of his middle school and high school. He was also the Toronto District School Board’s SuperCouncil President representing 86 000 secondary students in 103 secondary schools. He is also a member of the University of Ottawa senate.

Shamin is a humanitarian, inspirational speaker, a leader, and a follower that believes that everyone can achieve their dreams, once they strive for it.

Christina C. Melon
Vice-President, International

Having developed and delivered health education programming within Canada and internationally, Christina aims to integrate this experience into her work with LetsStopAIDS. Additionally, she brings to this role a multidisciplinary understanding and approach to health issues, and consistently strives for innovative programming.

Aside from her public outreach roles, Christina has worked – and continues to do so – on a diverse range of research projects related predominantly to global health and child-maternal health issues. She has several years of direct clinical experience, and holds an honours undergraduate degree in medical anthropology, as well as graduate awards in public health and health services management.

Christina is always welcoming of suggestions and feedback from members of the public. She can be easily reached at: cmelon@LetsStopAIDS.org

Sally Suen
Vice-President, National

Sally is currently in her final year at Queen's University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science Honours. Throughout her high school career, she became very interested in issues relating to the global HIV epidemic. Sally has since worked closely with the HIV and AIDS community by participating in the XVI International AIDS Conference as well as working as a summer student at the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation. Outside of her studies, Sally is an avid volunteer with many organizations and was the recipient of the City of Vaughan Citizenship Award as well as the Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Citizenship Award.

Last year, Sally took her passion for volunteering abroad to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where she provided support at a local orphanage. Sally absolutely enjoys working with and speaking to youth, and strongly believes that everyone has the potential to be a leader. As the African proverb says, “if you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito.”

Mark Diker
Director, Human Resources

Mark is a recent graduate from York University, holding a Bachelors degree in Human Resource Management, with the ambition to pursue a Masters degree within his related field. He has had numerous opportunities be employed in a variety of fast-paced, diverse and well organized companies which have helped build upon his HR knowledge and expertise. The skills acquired by Mark will be used to design and implement high-quality human resources programs, practices and procedures for LetsStopAIDS.

Mark is a Toronto native and has been an active member of his community, consistently helping others since his younger days. Mark strongly believes that everyone should lend a hand, assisting one another in an effort to strengthen the neighbourhood whether locally or globally.

Mark adds, “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too”, and with that in mind his aim with LetsStopAIDS is to make a difference for youth around the world suffering from HIV and AIDS.

Alicia Jarvis
Director, Programmes

Alicia Jarvis is 25 years old and has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree in Criminology from York University. Prior to her studies at York University, Alicia completed the Law Clerk program at Humber College. Alicia has a strong passion for gaining knowledge and helping others.

Alicia’s commitment to advocacy and public awareness started at a very young age with her involvement with The War Amps CHAMP Program and Operation Legacy. Her experiences with the War Amps enabled her to act as a peer counsellor, safety ambassador, and representative by participating in seminar weekends, parades, news releases and media interviews. Additionally, she brings to this role a multidisciplinary understanding and approach to health issues, and consistently strives for innovative and accessible programming.

Dave Pildush
Director, Marketing

Dave has attended a variety of multicultural schools in the Toronto area, and therefore is fluent in English, French, and Russian. Dave is a graduate of Marketing from Seneca College, and is currently pursuing his Bachelors of Business, specializing in Marketing from Meritus University. Dave has always been a leader and entrepreneur, having been involved with various organizations in the past, and is currently the founder of three firms in the Toronto area.

Dave has had the opportunity to travel around the globe, to countries such as Italy, France, Netherlands, China, USA, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean, experiencing a variety of cultures and having been exposed to various lifestyles. During his travels, Dave had the opportunity to experience first hand the impacts of AIDS and HIV on humans around globe. This prompted him to make a difference, and get involved with LetsStopAIDS.

Moving forward, as the newest member to the leadership team, Dave looks forward to bring his past marketing experience to the organization and educate youth around the globe on the prevention and spread of AIDS and HIV.

Keenara Khanderia
Executive Secretary

Keenara joined LetsStopAIDS in 2007, shortly after finishing her undergraduate degree in International Development Studies and Hispanic Studies at Trent University. Her role as Executive Secretary with LetsStopAIDS does not end just there, as she also considers herself as a volunteer for all other departments.

Keenara first became interested in volunteering in the public health sector when she participated in the York Region International Co-operative Education Program at the age of seventeen. Through this program, Keenara spent three months in a rural community in Ecuador volunteering at a local healthcare centre. Living and working in this little community was Keenara's first experience in traveling. Since then she went on to study at Trent University where she participated in two year-abroad programs. For her Hispanic Studies major, Keenara spent eight months studying at the University of Alicante in Spain and for her International Development major, Keenara spent four months studying at the University of Ghana, and another four months completing an internship with a Ghanaian NGO working on a sexual reproductive health research project.

Keenara currently works in the area of Public Service for the Federal Government, and although her day job doesn't quite utilize all the skills she has acquired through her undergraduate studies and travel experience, she employs her skills and her interest in public health through her volunteer work with LetsStopAIDS.

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