Be The Light Society a non-profit organization that aims to empower South Asian women. Catch Karen’s interview on Apple Podcasts.

To help women overcome social and cultural barriers, on November 2, Be the Light held its second annual Diwali event gala to raise funds for South Asian girls in need. Namely, 12th graders who are about to graduate high school, who can demonstrate a financial need, and who have been accepted into a post-secondary institution. The goal was to be able to support 20 girls with $2,500 scholarships each—“and we might have even raised more,” says Dosanjh. “We’re still crunching the numbers, but we absolutely hit our target.” Fifty women came together for the cause last year, and this year, 250.

KAREN DOSANJH talks about Be the Light Society (BTL) a non-profit organization focused on inspiring, empowering and elevating the next generation of South Asian women and girls through education, leadership opportunities, and connection to community. Be the Light showcases the excellence of South Asian women in Canada in order to help to build a greater sense of identity, pride and belonging for future generations. They are joining forces to raise funds for 20 scholarships for girls in need across BC.

Board member Karen Dosanjh discusses Be the Light Society's plans to raise funds to create 20 $2,500 scholarships for South Asian girls in B.C. this Diwali. Karen talks about the purpose-driven mission of the Society, why it is needed,, and how it is fostering education, leadership & connection opportunities for South Asian women & girls.

Vancouver Diwali celebration doubles as scholarship fundraiser for South Asian girls. KAREN DOSANJH shines the light on the work of the Be the Light Society through their Diwali fundraiser which raises funds for scholarships for girls in BC schools.

Bringing South Asian Women Together: How the Be the Light Society team is bringing South Asian women together to elevate, inspire & empower the next generation.

KAREN DOSANJH was honoured with the Darpan Extraordinary Achievement Award in the category of Heritage Defender for 2023 by Darpan Magazine. This award recognizes her years of volunteer service in bringing the history and experiences of the first South Asian settlers in Canada to light for the benefit of youth through her book, film & speaking engagements here and around the world.

In May 2023, Karen earned the BC Business 'Women of the Year' award in the “Entrepreneurial Leader” category and was selected to grace the coveted magazine cover. This award is based on her extraordinary 30-year career contributions in the business and tech industry in Canada and around the world.

Karen Dosanjjh talks about Untold Stories & Hidden Histories on Apple Podcasts

The media interest in the new documentary Hidden Histories: The Sikh Migration Path to Canada continues. Produced by Karen Dosanjh with Sikhlens, Hidden Histories is coming to BC this fall. Check out Karen’s interview with Nira Arora & Virgin Radio Vancouver.

Listen in Karen’s interview with Jas Johal on CKNW about my partnership w/Sikhlens to bring the book, Untold Stories, to life in the form of a documentary film called Hidden Histories: The Sikh Migration Path to Canada. This thought-provoking film chronicles the historic milestones of the first South Asians who migrated from India to Canada. This purpose of this film is to engage and inspire the next generation of storytellers to learn about the origins and contributions of South Asians in Canada.

Global BC’s ‘This is BC’ segment with Jay Durant highlights the new film that Karen co-produced with Sikhlens. Hidden Histories: The Sikh Migration Path to Canada chronicles the milestones & challenges faced by Canada’s first Sikhs. The film details the rich and longstanding history and contributions of South Asians who’ve helped build BC. Hidden Histories premieres as part of the inaugural Sikhlens Film Festival in Canada this fall.

Karen says, “These are not just stories for the Sikh community. These are ‘Canadian’ stories. These stories reflect the formation of Canada itself.”

#SikhHeritageMonth

Karen talked to RED FM Vancouver about how preserving early Sikh settler history in Canada is in her blood & started as a personal journey to document her own family’s origin stories (Johal/Dosanjh) in 2006/2007, but became so much more than that. This work focuses on the struggles & triumphs of the first South Asians to migrate to Canada and is now having an impact on youth here locally and around the world.

#SikhHeritageMonth

Karen Dosanjh, Finalist for the Surrey Board of Trade’s Women in Business Awards 2023 talks about her own extensive career path, why we need more women of colour in leadership positions, and the importance mentoring young women entering the business world of the future.

Author Karen Dosanjh talks about her book on first Sikhs in Canada on The Evening Round-up Show with Yasmin Gandham, on Connect FM 91.5! The book, 'Untold Stories: The South Asian Pioneer Experience in BC' focuses on the struggles and challenges faced by the first Sikhs that came to Canada.

Interview with CBC Radio’s On the Coast with Gloria Macarenko: April 14, 2022. Karen talks to Gloria about her latest passion project that aims to continue preserving South Asian heritage for youth. On the professional front, she talks about why diversity in the workplace matters as it helps create stronger teams, companies and communities.

Karen Dosanjh details stories of B.C.'s South Asian immigrants. Karen undertook an ambitious project. Not only documenting the stories of her ancestors -- but those of hundreds of other South Asian B.C. families. Karen Dosanjh shares the inspiration behind the book.

Karen Dosanjh from Canada, who participated with her film tracing the “first South Asian migrants who left Punjab for Canada for better opportunities,” says the film is her way of giving back. “The film is my seva for the community and shows how the earliest immigrants faced turbulence to blend into local population. I am a conduit for bringing back the stories to India where they originated, and this is a great honour for me These are not just Punjabi stories but are global ones.”

“Canada lives in Punjab, as much as Punjab lives in Canada.” The world premiere screening of the documentary Hidden Histories: The Sikh Migration Path to Canada took place, which showcased the historic milestones of the first South Asians who migrated from India to Canada in the early 1900s. Screening was accorded with the discussion of the making and experiences related to the documenting and filming of the same by the author and curator Karen Dosanjh.

Focus on a calendar that tracks the history of Sikhs in Canada. Curated by Karen Dosanjh, a Canadian-born historian, and shared generously by Patrick Herbert, consul general of Canada in Chandigarh, the calendar brings to life the struggles and successes of the first wave of migrants from Punjab to Canada in the early 1900s.