Ryerson: Benefactor empowers others through education

Project Beyshick 2006, taking place August 12 to 18, aims to nurture prosperity and financial independence among First Nations communities.

Aditya Jha knows the power of education.

The 50-year-old self-made millionaire attributes his success to education, ambition and hard work. Born in a village in Nepal, Jha obtained his masters in mathematical statistics and pursued post-graduate studies in computer science at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. After coming to Canada in 1994, Jha and two businessmen founded a software company called ISOPIA Inc. in 1998. Three years later, it was acquired by Sun Microsystems for $100 million US.

Omni TV: Project Beyshick 2005

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation nestled near Thunder Bay, Ontario, is larger than France and takes up two thirds of the province, spanning a land mass of 1127x 644 kilometers across the north of the province and is and home to 49 First Nation communities. But, according to Grand Chief Stan Beardy, despite the vastness of their nation, his people feel they are second class.