People with Purpose: Pranshu Shende
If you walk into the Early Morning Centre in Canberra on any given day, you might notice him, quiet, approachable, always with a ready smile and an attentive ear. To many, he is Pranshu, the Client Service Officer. To those who know him better, he is the person who makes a hard day softer, the one who shows up even when nobody is watching.
“I’m the kind of person who gets excited about new ideas, meaningful conversations, and good food,” he says. “I’ve moved around a bit, so I love meeting people from different walks of life, it keeps things real. I’m always up for helping out, sharing a laugh, or just being there when someone needs a hand. Life’s too short not to connect, right?”
It is in these simple reflections that his purpose becomes clear. For Pranshu, life is about connection, a value so needed in our city today.
Holding Space for Humanity
Working at the Early Morning Centre, which supports people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage, Pranshu encounters moments that most of us never see.
“There was a man who used to come into the centre almost every morning, always quiet, kept to himself, but he never missed a day,” he recalls. “One morning, he seemed more unsettled than usual. I gently asked if he was okay, and after some hesitation, he shared that his medication had run out, and he didn’t know how to get a refill. He was embarrassed to ask for help.”
It was a small moment on the surface. A man without medication. A conversation. But as Pranshu sat with him, called the mobile medical service, and arranged a same-day visit, something shifted.
“A week later, he came up to me, not to ask for anything, just to say thank you. That moment stayed with me. It wasn’t a big dramatic thing, but it reminded me how much trust it takes for someone to ask for help when they’ve been let down so many times. Being someone people can rely on, that makes me proud.”
For Pranshu, purpose is not performative. It is deeply human, rooted in the understanding that trust is hard-earned, and dignity is restored not by giving things to people, but by walking alongside them without judgement.
Why People Like Pranshu Matter for Canberra
We live in a city often ranked for its liveability, yet beneath the surface people are sleeping rough in Civic, or families are couch surfing in the suburbs. Many feel invisible, unheard, and stuck in survival mode. Pranshu sees this reality every day.
“Homelessness isn’t just about lacking a roof over your head,” he explains. “It’s about feeling invisible, unheard, and stuck in survival mode every single day. The people we support aren’t just ‘clients’; they’re individuals with stories, strengths, and resilience that often go unseen. What we do isn’t charity, it’s about restoring dignity, building trust, and creating a space where someone feels safe enough to ask for help.”
Imagine if more of us saw the world this way. If we approached every person with the quiet curiosity and compassion that Pranshu does. Our city would be a different place, more connected, more understanding, and more willing to address the uncomfortable truths that exist beyond the Parliamentary Triangle.
Showing Up, Every Day
“I’m someone who shows up, for work, for people, and for the things I care about. I genuinely believe that small efforts can lead to big change, and I try to live by that every day,” Pranshu says.
His colleagues will tell you that this is not a platitude. It is how he lives.
He reflects, “I’d want people to know they’re not alone, even if it feels like it. I’ve seen people walk through our doors with nothing but exhaustion in their eyes, and I’ve watched them slowly start to rebuild, one small piece at a time. What I’ve learned is that it’s okay to not have it all together. It’s okay to ask for help. Just showing up, especially on the hardest days, is a quiet kind of strength. And even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, there’s always someone who cares. You might not have met them yet, but they’re out there.”
It is easy to dismiss these words as “nice thoughts” in the face of systemic homelessness, mental health crises, or poverty. But to those who walk through the doors of his centre, they are lifelines. They are proof that even on the hardest days, there is someone who sees you, hears you, and treats you as an equal human being.
Finding Strength in Simplicity
Pranshu grounds himself in the simple joys of life, a trait that reflects his authenticity.
“I love going for long walks, especially when I leave my phone behind, it’s the best way to clear my head. Music helps too. Just throwing on my headphones and getting lost in a song can completely shift my mood. And honestly, nothing beats catching up with a close friend over a cup of chai, that’s my kind of therapy. It’s the simple things like these that keep me grounded.”
He also carries a few quirks that keep life joyful.
“Most people don’t guess this, but I’m actually a pretty decent singer, my sister even posted a video of me singing on Instagram once without telling me! Also, I’ve got this weird habit of adding chat masala to almost everything… even popcorn. It’s my go-to snack hack, and honestly, it just makes everything better.”
In a world that can feel heavy, people like Pranshu remind us to laugh, to sing, to add spice to life in unexpected ways.
A Refreshing Purpose
There is something refreshing about Pranshu’s purpose, it is free from ego or performance. It is led with kindness and conviction. He simply shares: “Honestly, I’m just glad to be here, to share a bit of my story, and to keep learning from the amazing people around me.”
Perhaps that is what makes him one of Canberra’s People with Purpose. He does not lead from above; he walks beside people. His purpose is not transactional; it is relational. And his greatest achievements are not listed on a resume, but embedded in the moments when someone feels safe enough to say, “I need help.”
The Ripple Effect
In public health, there is a concept called ‘the ripple effect,’ the idea that a single act of care can create waves of change far beyond its origin. Pranshu embodies this principle. When he remembers someone’s name, sits with them in distress, or makes them smile over breakfast, it reminds them of their worth. That worth influences how they engage with services, rebuild confidence, and re-enter community life.
Our city needs more people like Pranshu, people who understand that it is the small things, repeated consistently and with kindness, that build a community’s foundation.
A Final Reflection
As Canberra grows, with cranes towering over Civic and new suburbs emerging at every border, we cannot lose sight of what makes a city truly great. It is not its skyline or its infrastructure, it is its people.
People like Pranshu, who remind us:
That purpose is found in human connection.
That showing up for others, without expectation, is an act of quiet strength.
That dignity is restored not by systems alone, but by people who see others fully.
That the smallest moments, a hot meal, a name remembered, a phone call for help, are what hold us together.
We often look for leaders in suits and ties, speaking at podiums. But perhaps, leadership and purpose are also found in the man at the Early Morning Centre, who makes a chai, listens without judgement, and adds chat masala to popcorn because it makes life a little better.
Thank you, Pranshu, for reminding us what purpose looks like in its purest form. It is not loud or dramatic. It is human. It is showing up. And it is exactly what our city needs.
