A medical student working in youth health awareness, and a law student who is a leader within the multicultural community, have been named the 2020 Youth Week WA Ambassadors.
Youth Minister Dave Kelly today announced Haseeb Riaz and Zahra Al Hilaly, both aged 19, as the Youth Week WA 2020 Ambassadors.
As Ambassadors, Haseeb and Zahra will be working with the Youth Week WA planning committee, Propel Youth Arts WA and the Department of Communities to promote, support and develop Youth Week WA 2020.
Both will act as public spokespeople for Youth Week WA in the media and at Youth Week events.
Youth Week WA is the single largest celebration of young people in Western Australia. The event provides the wider community with the opportunity to listen to young people, celebrate their positive contributions to the community and hear about issues that affect their lives.
More at https://www.propel.org.au/youth-week-wa
As stated by Youth Minister Dave Kelly:
“Haseeb Riaz and Zahra Al Hilaly will be fantastic ambassadors for this year’s Youth Week WA celebrations.
“Both have made their mark in a number of areas and are committed to making the community a better place for young people and a place in which young people can thrive.
“As leaders among their peers, they provide a voice for our diverse community and I look forward to hearing from them in the lead-up to Youth Week WA.
“The McGowan Government is proud to support Youth Week WA which is a fantastic opportunity for young people to express their ideas and views, showcase their talents and achievements, and raise issues that are important to them.”
Biography: Youth Ambassador Haseeb Riaz
Haseeb is 19 years old and is enrolled in a direct pathway position to the Doctor of Medicine course at the University of Western Australia. He was a Fogarty Foundation Scholar in 2017.
He is also currently working as a co-ordinator for Dr YES, running high school peer-to-peer health education sessions to equip students with healthy harm minimisation and decision-making skills. He has also promoted the organisation’s work in health education for young people in the Kimberley.
Haseeb is an advocate for youth issues and is passionate about young people having a voice and nurturing their generation. Haseeb co-founded, Man Up, a project that empowers young men with the tools to develop their positive masculinity and he intends to deliver this program to schools.
Biography: Youth Ambassador Zahra Al Hilaly
Zahra is 19 years old and a first-generation Australian. Her parents were refugees from Iran and Palestine.
She is studying a double major in Law and Journalism at Murdoch University.
Zahra is a member of the national Youth Advisory Group for White Ribbon, a Youth Advisory Committee member for Headspace and the Red Cross and a past member of the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia (YACWA) as a Shout Out speaker.
She co-facilitated the national Youth Settlement Forum for WA and was selected as part of the United Nations +25 Youth Task Force for 2020.
Zahra is a leader in the multicultural community, values unique perspectives and works closely with young people from CALD backgrounds to foster their involvement in the broader community. She is passionate about developing her knowledge of youth engagement for multicultural communities.
Zahra hopes to become a human rights lawyer specifically focusing on immigration and refugee law. She is passionate about encouraging children and young people to speak up on issues affecting them and she has a strong connection with her culture.
