By Frederick Halley
DIANA Alli D’Souza is a humanitarian par excellence and an incredible individual with a heart of gold. At 71, she has no intention of slowing down and is currently in Rishikesh (Himalayas), India, where, according to her, she felt the need to give back “where poverty is unbearably devastating.”

Born in Mumbai, Dianna met a Guyanese jeweller in England and, along with two young children, moved to Guyana in 1971, but according to her, after an unstable marriage, she migrated to Toronto, Canada in 1975.

Leaving India all alone, at the tender age of 16, Diana lived with an aunt for a few years, completing her General Certificate of Education (GCE) O and A Levels but recalled that tragedy hit her family when a home cooking fire explosion took her father’s life and six months later her only brother was accidentally pushed off the last early morning crowded open-door train.

In a candid interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, from her location in India, where she is providing humanitarian help in the form of teaching in Rishikesh, one of the holiest Hindu cities in India, Diana related how “I get to be a kid again, having fun with my kiddies, in my case high school, university students and mature enough with the labourers yearning for better prospects, as their English teacher and philanthropist!”

According to Diana, “I get to play with the younger ones, nearly 580 kids, in one of the biggest NGOs called Khusi Charitable Society, some with one parent and no governmental support systems.”

Speaking of her experience, while in Guyana, Diana said she gave birth to her youngest child at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital while living in Georgetown. “I now donate to an orphanage called Oaks of Righteousness in tribute to my daughter born there and to commit to global needs. As well, for several years, I have supported projects dealing with poverty through Janet Naidu at Christmas.” Naidu is the current president of Guyanese Canadians for Unity (GCU), based in Toronto, Canada, an organisation which Diana also serves as member.

Diana pointed out that her kids were immersed more into the Guyanese culture “as we came from a very large family. My father-in-law married twice and had 20 kids, each then had mostly three children, a large community of our own. I am a better Guyanese cook, learned Indian cooking later in life and now passionate about covering recipes from all states.

“Besides family, my circle of friendships grew more with Caribbeans through my leadership work for over 40 years in Toronto with numerous Community organisations and beyond, as well as serving as the Diversity representative for University of Toronto medical school nationally – ie the National Association of Canadian Medical Schools, and the Association of American Medical Schools (AAMC).”

Diana disclosed that she was humbled to receive the AAMC North East Region Advocacy Award. “My Indian (Mangalorean) culture uprooted itself later in life after separating from an unstable marriage, and immersed more after retirement in 2012 when I felt I needed to give back to my birthplace where poverty is unbearably devastating.

“Education for me in all of my commitments and contributions has indelibly changed thousands of lives, especially in Toronto. I chose to take the tool sets to the Himalayas and support Indigenous populations, Dalits once called the untouchable and Adivasis (tribals)! Through my work and credit to the NGO called Khushi (happy) Charitable Society, lives have remarkedly flourished exponentially for hundreds of marginalised kids. I have chosen to stay connected to Guyana through organisations leading programmes to improve lives for those struggling in society and to ensure women are provided support system through the many challenges they faced.”

According to the Canadian Immigrant magazine, after Diana retired from her work as a senior administrator with the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine in 2012, two student awards were named in her honour as a tribute to her 38-year professional legacy, a hint of the impact she’s made in Canada since arriving from India four decades ago.

While at the University of Toronto, she founded or cofounded more than 21 outreach programmes for underserved, underrepresented, vulnerable and racialised populations. Her desire to make a difference also led her to spearhead global-scale benefit concerts through the University International Health Program (UTIHP) to raise funds for destitute children around the world. And, as lead administrator of UTIHP’s Books with Wings project, medical textbooks have filled libraries in war-torn and developing countries.

She told the magazine: “I have a passion for humanitarianism and making this world a more just and equitable society for all, serving and supporting the most marginalised and underrepresented populations, in particular, Indigenous and Black kids and youth.” Diana herself faced many struggles in her early years in Canada as a single mother of three children.

After retirement, Diana continued interest in altruism, and social responsibility led her to found Access Empowerment Council, a non-profit organisation created to inspire disengaged, marginalised and underrepresented youth and engage isolated elderly globally, with a focus in the Himalayas. “Being a philanthropist, mentor and English teacher has been my biggest blessing,” she says.

During the pandemic, Alli D’Souza also turned her attention locally, supporting a number of soup kitchens in Toronto, in particular one called Ripples of Kindness for the neediest requiring a hot meal, water and fruit packed for them. “It is a humbling experience knowing that many of us live in a privileged world, with a roof over our head and all the necessities that many barely have.”

In August, 2022, Diana was chosen as one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awardees, an annual citation by Canadian Immigrant magazine that recognises outstanding work by immigrants who “have come to Canada and have made a positive difference living in the country.” The impressive and prestigious ceremony was returning after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic and among the winners were Canadian soccer coach John Herdman and Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.

“We are so pleased to celebrate such amazing immigrants for the 14th year, now with the support of our presenting partner, Western Union,” Sanjay Agnihotri, publisher, Canadian Immigrant magazine, said. “This year’s winners have shared their amazing stories of their journeys to Canada, and they are all truly inspiring examples of immigrant success stories.”

A passionate trailblazer on social responsibility, Diana has served on numerous Boards: Faculty of Medicine Council, University of Toronto Governing Council, community foundations, university task forces and committees and is the recipient of more than two dozen prestigious awards including, 10 medical school graduation awards given to her for role-modelling, compassion and excelling the students’ experience.

Apart from the Top 25 Canada Immigrant Award, she is the recipient of the Order of Ontario, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and has also been bestowed with two perpetual awards in her name awarded to medical students, a MD/PhD Canadian, and University of Toronto MD graduation awards.

Diana enjoys time with her three children and their families. She is a grandma to nine beautiful grandkids. Her new found interest is working on political campaigns: municipal, provincial and Federal in Canada. (With input from Canadian Immigrant magazine).