Meet Areen Sandhu
Discover why Areen helped start the Heart of the City Foundation
Kids learning CPR at the Heart of the City event
Only a sophomore at Stockdale High School, Areen Sandhu is already making powerful strides towards making a remarkable impact on kids in the community. After realizing the various challenges that come with pursuing a career in the medical field, she’s decided to start her own nonprofit to help kids that are passionate about medicine but lack resources. She’s reached and helped kids across the county, organizing events where city officials, like Mayor Karen Goh, have attended to show their support. I had the honor of interviewing Areen, and here’s what she had to say about her work.
What exactly is your organization?
The Heart of the City Foundation is a non-profit that helps young people in Kern County learn about careers in healthcare and how to give back to the community. We do things like internships, mentorships, and community service projects to inspire kids like me to help others and maybe even work in healthcare someday.
Why did you start it?
It started because we wanted to do our part in helping Kern County grow stronger. There are a lot of talented kids here who just need the right opportunities to succeed. This foundation gives us the chance to explore careers, learn new things, and make a difference in our community.
What do you hope to accomplish with it?
We hope to inspire kids to think about healthcare as a career and to teach them how important it is to help others. The goal is for us to come back to Kern County after school or training and use what we’ve learned to make our hometown better.
What’s been the most meaningful experience you’ve had through it?
The most meaningful experience has been seeing how much people care about helping us succeed. From the mentors who guide us to the people supporting us in the organization of these events, it’s inspiring to know so many people believe in us and want us to succeed.
Do you want to expand it?
Yes, we want to expand so more kids in Kern County can join and have these amazing opportunities. It would be great if more schools, clinics, and businesses got involved too, so we can reach even more people.
What have you learned?
I’ve learned that helping others feels really good and that healthcare is such an important way to do that. I’ve also learned that it takes a lot of work behind the scenes to run a non-profit, but it’s worth it when you see the positive changes it can bring.
Do you hope to use this for future career plans?
Definitely! Being part of this foundation makes me excited about maybe working in healthcare someday. It’s also teaching me leadership and teamwork skills that will help no matter what I decide to do in the future.
Learning about Areen Sandhu's commitment to help kids within our community was truly inspiring. Through her work with The Heart of the City Foundation, she has taken the initiative to empower the youth of Kern County. Her dedication to create opportunities that were once difficult to attain for others, coupled with her exemplary leadership and empathy, stands as a guiding light for others. It’s clear that Areen is not only focused on her own future, but also the futures of numerous individuals who –with resources like those she’s providing – can chase their dreams.