WRH Mediator Receives Social Justice Award
5-4-2021
Windsor Regional Hospital’s Mediation and Human Rights Services Commissioner Aruna Koushik feels honoured Social Justice is being recognized as an integral part of a fair and equitable society.
Koushik was recently named one of the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario’s ‘Women of Excellence’ in the newly created Social Justice Award category.
The award sponsored by RBC recognizes the impact and advocacy of Social Justice through work and action against social, ethnic or gender inequalities.
Koushik is a past president of the Multicultural Council of Windsor, former chair of the Carrousel of the Nations and served on the Ontario Human Rights Commission for over 15 years. In her role at WRH, Koushik played a key role in the establishment of the Mediation and Human Rights Services office in the health care sector to assist in dispute resolution.
Living by the motto, ‘Service is the rent we pay in this world’, Koushik is most proud of her participation in rotary’s Polio Drops which has saved thousands of children from the dreaded disease by providing oral polio vaccines to children.
She has travelled to Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria as part of her service work.
Raised in India, Koushik says lending a helping hand was part of the fabric of society. She even worked with Mother Teresa who became her mentor.
“Little acts of positivity — it is a small act but you feel good and your heart sings,” says Koushik. “I like to hear my heart singing.”
As part of her Rotary of Windsor work, she recalls a trip to Nigeria to deliver food and powdered milk. She visited camps of displaced people fleeing the terrorist group Boko Haram. The people travelled for miles in the night, lived in poor conditions and yet, while Koushik sat on the floor and talked to them, they were happy.
She recognizes the MCC which cemented her philanthropy roots when she first arrived in Windsor and supported her efforts to help immigrants and women suffering from domestic violence.
“It’s an organization with a heart for people coming to this country to build a new life,” she says.
In receiving this award, Koushik says her message is a simple one.
“There is no religion in the world, there is just humanity,” she says. “If we believe in humanity, we will do the right thing. We do it with love in our mind, heart and soul.”
“We are one,” she concludes.
A virtual gala is scheduled to take place on May 19th.
Visit the YMCA website for more information about the winners in various categories.