Ishpreet Kakkar’s journey beginning from her time during the COVID pandemic is only a testament to the person she was shaped to become, her achievements only a facet of her genuine desire to better the lives of other people. 

“Empathy and a conscience,” replied Ishpreet, a response to asking her how she came to be who she is, how she came to do what she does. This quality of hers was incredibly evident from conversation, her sense of justice that drove her to do outstanding things, and will surely drive her further in her time to come. With her consistent academic achievements going hand in hand with her passionate social work, it is really no wonder that she has been chosen for the Social Impact and Activism category.

She credits her parents and the COVID-19 pandemic for acting as a catalyst to becoming someone so passionate about social work. “My parents disapproved, but I risked my health for people during that time,” she said, referring to her work and contributions during the pandemic, starting her journey in May 2021. “It made me a better person.” Taking after her parents, who distributed supplies like sanitizers, masks, and food free of cost, she carried the baton and helped to bring forth the Sachi Seva Foundation, which spearheaded over 50 food drives and numerous clothing drives, impacting the lives of over 1000 people for the better. Considering the reach and impact, it turned out to be a UN Millennium-recognised project.

Her authenticity shines forth in the way that she has never been afraid to speak her mind, using her platform and her reach to be critical, questioning, and hold herself and others accountable. She uses her time in University to explore and try out different things, saying that it is the best time to do so, and works hard to prioritise many commitments at once.

She credits her work with the National University of Singapore as her most educational and enjoyable experience, saying that it is where she truly started developing the empathy that makes her such a dedicated person. Moreover, being surrounded by like-minded people at the time helped her grow further. Her maternal grandmother had been her inspiration from a young age, teached her to rebel, to question, and to perform acts of feminism and service that ingrained in her the urge to continue doing so.

She wields her admitted personal privilege like a tool, working not to let it blind her but to help others with it instead. “I believe not only equality, but rather in equity,” she had said, and her actions continually reflect how strongly she is committed to this ideology.