Discover the heart of Proud to be a Human and our commitment to spreading kindness.
Proud to be a Human is a non-profit movement celebrating the goodness that exists in all of us.
We choose to focus on what unites us: our shared humanity. Every day, ordinary people perform extraordinary acts of kindness that go unnoticed. We exist to amplify these stories, to inspire others, and to create a ripple effect of compassion that keeps scaling. Our movement is built on the belief that small actions lead to big changes. A smile shared with a stranger, a helping hand extended to a neighbour, a moment of genuine listening; these are the building blocks of a more compassionate world. Through our programs, events, and initiatives, we empower individuals to become agents of positive change in their own neighbourhoods while connecting them to a network of like-minded humans.
Founder & Executive Director
The idea for Proud to Be Human was born on a crowded Toronto subway. Avaanya witnessed a teenager give up their seat to an elderly stranger, and the simple exchange of gratitude brought smiles to an entire train car.
“In that moment, I realized that kindness is contagious,” Avaanya recalls. “One small act created a ripple that touched dozens of people.”
Before moving to Canada at age 10, Avaanya grew up in India, where her involvement with CRY (Child Rights and You) and volunteering with visually impaired students shaped her understanding of empathy and service. Teaching math and learning from others showed her how meaningful kindness can be.
In 2026, she founded Proud to Be Human to turn empathy into action through community initiatives, digital outreach, and in-person experiences. Her mission is to inspire people to create small acts of kindness that make a lasting difference.
Because we should all be Proud to Be Human.
