Ravi Singh (humanitarian)
{{Short description|British humanitarian (born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| pre-nominals =
| name = Ravinder Singh
| post-nominals =
| image = Ravi Singh CEO of Khalsa Aid at Vaisakhi in the Square.jpg
| native_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|9|16}}
| birth_place = Mundian Jattan, Hoshiarpur, Punjab, India{{cite news |title=Khalsa Aid CEO Ravi Singh refuses 'Indian of the Year' Award nomination |url=https://www.sikhpa.com/khalsa-aid-ceo-ravi-singh-refuses-indian-of-the-year-award-nomination/ |access-date=24 May 2018 |agency=Sikh Press Association |publisher=SikhPA}}
| nationality = British
| alma_mater = Slough and Eton Church of England Business and Enterprise College
| occupation = CEO of Khalsa Aid
| years_active = 1999-Present
| known_for = Humanitarian work around the globe, Promoting sikhism
| notable_works = Founded Khalsa Aid 1999
Humanitarian Aid to Yazdi Families in Iraq escaped from ISIS
| boards = Khalsa Aid
| awards = Sikh of the Year 2014
Bhagat Singh Thind community empowerment Award 2017{{cite web|title=Founder of Khalsa Aid, Ravi Singh to receive Bhagat Singh Thind community empowerment Award|url=https://www.sikhpa.com/khalsa-aid-ceo-ravi-singh-refuses-indian-of-the-year-award-nomination/ |access-date=5 September 2019}}
}}
Ravinder "Ravi" Singh (born 16 September 1969) is a British humanitarian and founder and CEO of the Sikh international non-profit aid and relief organization Khalsa Aid.{{Cite tweet |access-date=18 August 2023 |url-access=limited |title=Register |user=RaviSinghKA |number=1433836856588836869 |url=https://twitter.com/RaviSinghKA/status/1433836856588836869}}
Career
Ravi has been working as a Sikh humanitarian since 1999, when he had the idea of taking the ideals of the Khalsa, to regions of the world that needed it the most with the hope that it will help to rekindle people’s trust in humanity.{{Cite web|url=https://www.darpanmagazine.com/magazine/cover-story/ravi-singh-reigniting-faith-in-humanity/|title=Ravi Singh: Reigniting Faith in Humanity|website=www.darpanmagazine.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-25}}
Ravi shot to fame in the UK in 2014 when he mobilized his charity to help the people of Somerset after heavy rain and high winds caused huge amounts of damage to property and land.{{Cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/disaster-charity-khalsa-aid-helps-flood-victims-10418087|title=Disaster Charity Khalsa Aid Helps Flood Victims|work=Sky News|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en-GB}} Later that year the people of Somerset nominated him to appear on the national hit TV show 'Surprise Surprise' as a way of saying thank you for his support. He received a family holiday and a new car.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/13438325.Relief_worker_surprised_on_national_TV_after_flooding_help/|title=Relief worker surprised on national TV after flooding help|website=Slough Observer|language=en|access-date=2018-06-25}}
In 2015 Ravi helped the people of Nepal after an earthquake killed nearly 9,000 people and injured nearly 25,000. He encouraged his newly made friends from Somerset to help.{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/happylist/nepal-earthquake-happy-list-hero-inspires-people-to-return-the-help-he-showed-them-10221216.html|title=Nepal earthquake: Happy List hero inspires people to return the help|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-06-25|language=en-GB}}
The BBC made a film about Ravi in 2016 titled 'The Selfless Sikh' which documented his journey to northern Iraq, where he provides aid to Yazidi families who have fled their homes to escape the brutality of Islamic State.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0834s76|title=The Selfless Sikh: Faith on the Frontline - BBC One|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-06-25}} The film follows Singh into the heart of Iraqi Kurdistan as he delivers aid to Yazidi refugees in makeshift camps, barely 70 kilometres from the IS stronghold of Mosul.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/Ravi-Singh-the-Sikh-who-leads-relief-work-from-Haiti-to-Iraq/article16668303.ece|title=Ravi Singh: the Sikh who leads relief work from Haiti to Iraq|last=Visvak|date=2016-11-19|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-06-26|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}
In 2016 Ravi's team assisted motorists stranded in the Dover traffic chaos by delivering 6000 water bottles. Some travelers spent up to 15 hours at a standstill on the M20. Ravi was praised widely on social media. Ravi Singh also stepped in to provide relief to flood victims in multiple Indian states impacted in the 2019 Indian floods.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/24/volunteer-group-delivers-water-to-motorists-stranded-in-dover-tr/|title=Volunteer group delivers water to motorists stranded in Dover traffic chaos|last=Boult|first=Adam|date=2016-07-24|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-06-26|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}
Awards and recognition
Sep 2018: Received 'The Award Of Excellence and Achievement' by the Punjabi Society Of British Isles at a ceremony in the British Parliament.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghaintpunjab.com/GhaintPunjab/Article/11095/founder-of-khalsa-aid-ravinder-singh-awarded-by-punjabi-society-of-british-isles|title=Founder Of Khalsa Aid Ravinder Singh Awarded By Punjabi Society Of British Isles|website=Ghaint Punjab|access-date=2020-04-26}}
May 2018: He refused the ‘Indian of the Year’ Award nomination for his humanitarian contributions because he does not identify himself as an Indian but as a Punjabi/Khalsa.{{cite news |title=Khalsa Aid CEO Ravi Singh refuses 'Indian of the Year' Award nomination |url=https://www.sikhpa.com/khalsa-aid-ceo-ravi-singh-refuses-indian-of-the-year-award-nomination/ |access-date=24 May 2018 |agency=Sikh Press Association |publisher=SikhPA}}
Dec 2017: Honoured with the Bhagat Singh Thind Community Empowerment Award at a national gala dinner in Maryland USA.{{Cite web|url=http://saldef.org/news/ravi-singh-khalsa-aid-honored-gala/#.WzF8YqdKjIU|title=Ravi Singh, Founder of Khalsa Aid to Receive Bhagat Singh Thind Award {{!}} SALDEF|website=saldef.org|date=21 November 2017|language=en|access-date=2018-06-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/saldef-2017-gala-a-night-of-love-and-strength-in-diversity/article_d1bfd8e2-f029-11e7-93c8-b7744ce460a1.html|title=SALDEF 2017 Gala: A Night of Love and Strength in Diversity|last=Reporter|first=India-West Staff|website=India West|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}
Sep 2017: Received the 'International Sensation Award' at Darpan Awards ceremony in Surrey, Canada.{{Cite web|url=https://darpanmagazine.com/news/life/watch-ravi-singh-tells-what-it-feels-to-be-darpans-international-sensation-award-winner/|title=Nominate Now: Darpan's International Sensation Award Winner Ravi Singh Talks Real Sikhi|website=darpanmagazine.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-26}}
Dec 2014: Awarded 'Sikh of the Year 2014' at an award ceremony in Amritsar{{Cite web|url=https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/slough/73434/Humanitarian-named-Sikh-of-the-Year.html|title=Humanitarian named Sikh of the Year at awards ceremony|last=|first=|date=|website=Maidenhead Advertiser|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aza89isxpPY|title=Highlights of the Award Ceremony in Amritsar organised by SEWA International|last=|first=|date=|website=Sikh Channel|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
See also
References
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