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Youth of the Month
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April 2012 #2: Devon Drumm
01 May 2012 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
At 22, Devon Drumm is a graduate of the Art Institute of Vancouver with a focus on graphic design, has created his own gaming start up called Pepperdev Studios, and is now working on Hungry Fins, a mobile game app that can be purchased in app stores once funded and produced. Let’s not forget that he can now add “Y57′s Youth of the Month” on to his list of accomplishments!
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April 2012 #1: Selin Jessa
25 Apr 2012 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
“The reason I try to be so involved is that it makes me so excited to be a part of a generation that is trying to make a difference!” These are the powerful words of our very accomplished youth of the month, 16 year old Selin Jessa.
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March 2012: Cassie Jane Dixon
28 Mar 2012 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
Calgary born and bred, Cassie Jane Dixon, never really seems to have a second to herself! From being a full time SFU Communications Student, to the Secretary General for the Model United Nations, a Community Advisor for SFU Residence Life, and an integral part of the SFU Relay for Life along with so much more,
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February 2012: Sunny Huang
29 Feb 2012 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
While most grade 12 students are preparing for prom, choosing their gowns, dates, limos and heels, Sunny Huang, Secretary General of the Canadian High Schools Model United Nations, is preparing for next week’s big Model UN conference. With over 750 people from BC, Eastern Canada and the United States, her focus is making this a memorable event for all. Although she has been involved in one form or another with the Model UN since grade seven, Sunny decided to take a bigger step in grade 10 and is now out there, first hand, making a difference in our community today. At these conferences Sunny explains how the goal is to stimulate the minds of the participants while encouraging debate and thinking. By being a part of such a large group, or what some may call a growing movement, Model UN allows for today’s youth to become aware of the various problems and situations affecting our world today. Not only that, but they are able to discuss, think, and debate on reasons for these situations as well as possible situations for them.
Sunny has not only spent a lot of her life dedicated to the Canadian High School’s Model United Nations, but has also grown a passion for working with the homeless, especially the homeless youth in Vancouver. In fact, for the past year she was a member of the Family Court Youth Justice Committee where they got together to discuss issues and possible ways to improve the situation for our homeless youth. Although this was just a one year commitment and it ended this past December it doesn’t mean that Sunny’s mission to aid the homeless youth is over. Alongside friends and others wanting to get involved in helping Vancouver’s homeless youth, Sunny helps in collecting items (ie: clothing, food, and pamphlets on rehab and growth) and putting together packages for youth. Not only does she drop off these packages to local shelters but you can find Sunny herself on the streets distributing these packages and trying to make a first-hand connection with the youth. It takes a lot to not only makes these packages but to go the extra mile and distribute them, but Sunny doesn’t cease to amaze us with her commitment to her passion to help the homeless.
All the while being a part of the Model United Nations and partaking in assisting the homeless youth in Vancouver, Sunny somehow also finds time to be a regular grade 12 girl, play tennis, and participate in choir. Sunny shows the youth of today that we are so fortunate for what we have so why not take a moment to pay it forward and help the youth out there that need us most!
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January 2012 #2: Sophie Harrison
31 Jan 2012 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
“I didn’t do anything to deserve being born in Canada” says January 2012’s second youth of the Month, the humble Sophie Harrison.
It’s so rare to find a youth so passionate about climate change in today’s society that is driven by fast cars, popular electronic devices, and an obscene amount of energy usage. Nonetheless, we have found our diamond in the rough this month, Sophie, a young woman who passionately states and truly believes that “climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation”!
Just an average girl, playing on a Metro soccer team and running cross country as well as partaking in theatre at Prince of Wales Secondary in her spare time, Sophie can also be found volunteering the rest of her time with the environmental organization she started in 2010, Kids for Climate Action.
It all stemmed from a trip to India where Harrison volunteered alongside her mom at the Ashraya Initiative for Children where she spent twelve hour days teaching nursery school classes and immersing herself into the heavily impoverished community. In her words, the conditions were “appalling.” This was when she realized that she didn’t do anything to deserve being born in Canada and that she needed to bring change in order to earn how lucky she is to be born in Canada. This is where her passion for climate change came into play.
She wants the world to realize that it is not okay for rich countries to pollute while poor countries are suffering. The more we pollute, the more the crops in the third world countries (their means of survival) will deplete. With that being said, Sophie created Kids for Climate Action because she realized that although there are a lot of environmental causes in schools focused on individuals making a difference, there needs to be a MOVEMENT, something to get everyone involved instead. “I can’t wait until I graduate from University to make a difference and be an activist. I need to act now, it’s the future world for my children”. Sophie also brings about an interesting notion: if we, the people, don’t make the environment a priority, the government will not feel it is a priority either.
Lastly, this young woman eager to make a change leaves us with some useful tips!
1. Make changes in your own life – little things do make a difference.
2. Do the little things to make a difference, BUT realize that it’s NOT enough.
3. Ride your bike, take transit, and walk wherever you canSophie urges us to realize that “NOW is the pivotal time in earth’s history, so get involved in any way that you can”
Click HERE to nominate someone you think deserves to be named Y57′s Youth of the Month!
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January 2012 #1: Ilyaz Mapara
25 Jan 2012 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
Saying prayers in mosque in front of hundreds of people, flying planes up high in the sky, and partaking in tae kwon do. These are just a few of the wonderful achievements that 16 year old Ilyaz Mapara has been able to accomplish; all the while overcoming the barriers that autism has attempted to put in his way.
Since the day Ilyaz was born, he wasn’t able to see things in the conventional ways that most of us can, because he was born completely blind. However, that gave his other senses a chance to shine and Ilyaz has not let the lack of one sense put a cramp in his style to say the least. Many of us would fear learning to fly a plane but someone who has it harder has taken a bigger step than most of us ever would. On top of having a mere passion to fly a plane, he has pursued his passion and does in fact fly planes, while being blind, with the aid of a co-pilot telling him where to turn and what to do. Ilyaz says it best, “I don’t let autism affect me, I just go with the flow.” He has made a conscious effort of not letting such a barrier get in his way. Furthermore, with that being said, Ilyaz intends to be a pilot some day in the future, and with his ambition and courage there is no doubt he will fulfill his dream!
Now looking further into the life of this inspiring young man, it’s impressive how motivated and optimistic he is no matter what he is doing. Take tae kwon do for example! I’ve always wanted to try it out but feared getting my butt kicked! Nonetheless, here is Ilyaz, not even able to physically see his opponent, his master, or anyone around him, but he jumps onto that mat fearlessly each time and follows special instruction and conducts his moves. So, Ilyaz also shows us that each day he is helped by others to fulfill his dreams and continue with his life goals. If not for the support of his tae kwon do master, it would be difficult to know what is happening. He humbly accepts the love and support of his family, friends, and teachers and reminds us that it is ok to take a little help along the way to the top!
So, when looking at Ilyaz you shouldn’t just see a guy who was born with a few road blocks put in place for him. Rather, you see a courageous young man who isn’t willing to let anything get in the way of his dreams. He reminds us to “live in the present and don’t ask what’s coming tomorrow!”
Click HERE to nominate someone you think deserves to be named Y57′s Youth of the Month!
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Youth of the Months of 2011
05 Jan 2012 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
Woo! 2011 is over and what a year it has been! The Youth of the Months, or YOMs as we like to call them, have truly done some damage on my emotions throughout this year. I can personally say that this show has exposed me to some of Vancouver’s most inspiring, life changing, and wonderful youth! It’s hard to narrow down such amazing people to a top 5 list, but it had to be done.
Please everyone do me a favour though and keep in mind just how inspirational each of these Youth of the Months of 2011 have been and feel free to nominate someone today!
Now, with much deliberation, voting, and decision making (drum roll please),
YOUTH IN 57 MINUTES’ TOP 5 YOUTH OF THE MONTHS FOR 2011 ARE (and in no particular order):
1. Joselyn John
2. Jessica Kruger
3. Katie Lentz
4. Adam Stich
5. Zoya Jiwa1. Joselyn John went from having to leave her home in Burundi at the age of six due to a civil war, to walking on foot with her family to Tanzania, where refugees were later removed and sent to refugee camps in Malawi. She managed to come out on top with an educational scholarship landing her here in Vancouver at SFU and is now raising money and awareness of the refugee situations and bringing her family to Canada.
2. Jessica Kruger, despite going from working a summer job as a painter and falling off the ladder to later ending up as a paraplegic, has not erased that beautiful smile off of her face. She has seized every opportunity and after already travelling to Africa intends to stick to her dream of teaching English in a third world country! A go-getter to say the least!
3. Katie Lentz was one that changed my whole outlook on the world as I perceive it today. From being an addict to working with addicts, going from the streets, to now working towards a career in Psychology, she showed me how anyone can change their path when they are ready to do so. She reminds us all that life may throw a hard ball at you, but it’s how you handle it that shows who you truly are!
4. Adam Stich, an ordinary guy with an extraordinary dream! From deciding to spend a summer volunteering in a hospital in Nepal he went further to co-found the Khokana Project where his proceeds go towards helping the children complete their education. All the while, he’s been busy studying Animal Biology at UBC, volunteering, being a residence advisor, an active guy, and a social one too!
5. Zoya Jiwa, a girl whose goal is to help people and make them happy, was a real treat to have on the show! She learned early on that life wouldn’t come easy to her, but never let that get in her way. Being diagnosed with Lupus at a young age, she has taken that situation and made it a driving force in her life. She has spoken at TEDXKids, started a group about inner beauty and believing in ourselves, and aspires to continue to motivate the youth of the world so long as she can keep them happy!
So you see, being a Youth of the Month isn’t a clear cut ‘type of person.’ Our youth have overcome various life-altering obstacles, have volunteered, have been motivated to do good, have succeeded when success wasn’t even thought to be possible, and have overall just kept on believing through it all. I’ve said it once, and I will most definitely say it again: Y57’s Youth of the Months are just ordinary people trying to do extraordinary things. However big or small, we can all make a difference if we put our minds to it. In fact, last month, Amy Bains said it best: “It’s not like you have to go out and invent your own volunteer program.” Join something, start something, be a part of something, inspire someone, support someone, do what you can to keep those around you smiling and you are already making a difference!
Lastly, I would like to recognize each of our Youth of the Months throughout this year and all the nominees for their various forms of ‘good deeds’, kind acts, ability to overcome difficult barriers, inspiration, and motivation!
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November 2011: Amy Bains
01 Dec 2011 by Zahra Premji / 1 Comment
“It’s not like you have to go out and invent your own volunteer program” says November’s Youth of the Month, Amy Bains. It isn’t about the recognition or the large groups to volunteer with, or even the large fundraisers to travel across the world and volunteer her time over there. Although these are of course appealing volunteer opportunities, Amy looks at volunteering with a new approach. Being at Kwantlen Polytechnic University majoring in Psychology and minoring in Criminology, all the while working her way through it as a Customs Broker and playing soccer full time on a Division one team, Amy shows that you CAN make a difference if you’re determined to do so!
It started in high school where Amy found herself volunteering wherever she could find an opportunity. She partook in PE Leadership where volunteering was a focus, especially organizing the Community Christmas Dinner for the less fortunate. If there was a volunteer opportunity available, Amy was always sure to find it. However, once graduation rolled around, the inevitable occurred…the real world set in and she figured there wouldn’t be time to continue her voluntary service when the University life style and University homework came about. Nonetheless she made a conscious effort to “be who [she] was in high school and not loser [herself] in the big University world”. Proudly today she can say she succeeded in this goal.
With hopes of becoming a counsellor, Amy finds herself spending her free time, or even creating time, to volunteer with a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD) program called “Totally Beautiful” that was created just over a year ago. This program is based around working with girls who are enduring the hardships associated with FASD. However, as Amy puts it, “it’s based around friendship and helping eachother”. So it’s far from a typical volunteer job where there is a clear distinction between the helper and helpee. Through this program Amy has been able to achieve so much herself. Working with these beautiful girls, helping them improve their self image, their presence in social situations and their focus on life values has also taught Amy and her fellow volunteers a lot. “It seems like our generation didn’t really learn a lot about values-our parents learned it and it seems to have skipped ours”, Amy points out. Through “Totally Beautiful” Amy can honestly say she leaves each week learning something new.
The beauty of this program is that as much as it has helped those with FASD grow it has helped change the perspective on life for the volunteers. The birth of Totally Beautiful seemed to parallel a time in Amy’s life where everything seemed to be falling apart; a time in her life where she only found true happiness in soccer. But, once she joined the Totally Beautiful team she felt it was the first time in a long time she had a reason to smile and it was truly the life altering experience she needed to change her approach to life as a whole. “Working with girls who [for the most part] don’t have a constant parent or person in their life other than you is an eye opener”, Amy humbly points out.
Amy Bains is an ideal example of a woman on a mission! She has her goals in mind for her future, she works full time to fulfill those goals, attends school, keeps sane by playing soccer, yet still makes time to give back and learn a thing or two while she’s at it. “You can find opportunities to help as long as you take time out of your schedule”…the words of a busy woman who refuses to deny herself the opportunity to help others. She said it best, you don’t have to go out there and invent a new program, travel half way across the world to make a difference, all you have to do is find a little bit of spare time to give back and make a difference!
*Totally Beautiful has a women’s group and has recently started a men’s group as well and is always looking for volunteers. If anyone is interested they are welcome to contact the program coordinator Sarah Phillips @ sarah.phillips@shaw.ca
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October 2011 #2: Zoya Jiwa
01 Nov 2011 by Zahra Premji / 1 Comment
“I just want to help people and make them HAPPY!”
These are the powerful words expressed by the inspiring and extremely self motivated 17 year old, Zoya Jiwa! When chatting with Zoya, enthusiasm, excitement, and pure passion for living life to its fullest are clearly evident in every word and every breath she takes! A girl who has gone through so much and has worked so hard to be where she is today, has made the conscious decision to remain optimistic at all times and never give up; an attitude that has brought her to where she is today!
Like many motivated teens, Zoya finds time to volunteer, play soccer, and indulge in her passion to paint and draw. Nonetheless, it doesn’t come as easy to this young optimist! At the age of thirteen, she was diagnosed with Lupus. Although this may not do the disease and its side effects justice, in short form, Lupus is when the body fights all the GOOD cells instead of the BAD. With that diagnosis came a very weak immune system, many health issues, and of course medicines with side effects. One major side effect that this young teen experienced was a lowered self esteem. Such a beautiful young girl was not able to appreciate her outer as well as inner beauty. Nonetheless, by being surrounded by an extremely supportive and loving social and family circle along with her extremely positive attitude she said she “viewed [her] illness as a challenge rather than a limitation.” Being already so passionate about volunteering, and helping others prior to this diagnosis, she was able to carry that strength on and learn so much about herself through the experience that she wanted to do more to help others too!
“I wanted to help people be who they are.”
So, in order to help other young people address their image issues while having fun doing it, Zoya decided to start up a group called “Simply You” that focuses on health and wellness. Although it is still in its beginning stages Zoya has many goals in mind for it, all centred around giving young individuals the power to embrace who they are!
Although unsure of what the future holds for Zoya at this point in time, she does know that wherever life takes her she wants to immerse her passions into that life. Helping people is key for her and so wherever she ends up she knows that is something she will continue to do for the rest of her life! She has already shown that it is possible to combine your passion and skills together to make a change and so there is no doubt that she will find a way to make a career of it! For now though, she is enjoying using her passion for art to make a positive change in the world by being a monthly blogger, and the youngest one on their site in fact, for ArtQuake (under the name zoyaj).
Along with starting up “Simply You”, Zoya volunteers in the Ismaili Muslim community in whatever capacity is required on a day to day basis, has been a guest speaker at TEDxKids@BC , and is the co president of Students Council and MetoWe. She keeps herself busy but she also keeps herself positive in all the obstacles life may have to offer!
A strong girl with an illness that has the potential to tarnish her energy and happiness, can proudly say she has not let it knock her down ever without a fight! Being a Silver A Soccer star, a volunteer, a social butterfly and above all an extremely passionate and driven individual cannot always be an easy thing, but Zoya shows that with the right combination of optimism and passion, we can do ANYTHING!
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October 2011: Adam Stich
27 Oct 2011 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
Volunteering, working, studying to be a doctor, Co-Founder of a fundraising organization, religious and yet still has time to be a social butterfly! Adam Stich is the ideal example of a balanced guy. Studying Animal Biology in his third year at the University of British Columbia as one can imagine can be time consuming enough as it is, but that has never stopped Adam. From being a Residence Community Advisor at Simon Fraser University and jumping straight into the role as Residence Advisor at UBC, he has kept himself quite busy not only helping himself but helping others as well!
Helping others and taking initiative in his surrounding community was something embedded into his life early on. Being an avid church attendee at the age of 15, he was exposed to youth group while volunteer opportunities began to present themselves. For example, during his years in high school, Adam could be found at different locations throughout Greater Vancouver volunteering in homeless shelters, hospitals, and various church events. Further to that, from high school he carried in to university his passion to play and coach volleyball through volunteering his time in Vancouver high schools’ volleyball programs. So it is clear to see that volunteering and Adam Stich go hand in hand.
Now, studying to be a doctor, wanting to continue volunteering, and still having a job can be considered very difficult aspects to balance in life. But, Adam has never let that be a barrier. In fact, two summers ago, he decided to go abroad to Nepal for an internship where he could volunteer in a hospital and learn hands on to gain the experience required to prepare him for his future career. But where Adam goes, a passion to help follows not too far behind. Being abroad that summer and deciding to make local friends, he was found spending more and more of his days and weeks with his new local friend. While sharing in his friend’s cultures and traditions, he was also exposed to the heartbreaking educational circumstances. This little village in Nepal, being primarily an agriculture industry, required that children only stay in school to a certain point, and then leave their studies to partake in the ‘family business’ of farming so to speak. With this came a clear epiphany for Adam in which he realized he needed to team up with his friends and start making some changes. This is where they both co-founded the “Khokana Project” that they started alongside a team of eight individuals. He wanted this project to give him the ability to go home and fundraise for the education of these children, and that he did! Since that epiphany two summers ago, Adam has returned again to oversee and partake in Khokana Project initiatives. So here stands an ordinary guy, with extraordinary dreams! A guy who likes to spend his spare time hiking and travelling, also turned his passion of helping people on a smaller scale to a large scale project!When asked what advice he would provide to others, Adam said he wanted the youth to know that yes he started out with the small scale volunteering as many of us do but he reminds us that “the small things have shaped [him] into who [he] is” giving him the ability to step forward and begin a larger scale project.
You can volunteer, you can work, you can study, you just have to find balance. Adam did and so he shows us all that so can we!
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September 2011: Jessica Kruger
27 Sep 2011 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
It seemed so simple!
Get out of bed, head to work, climb the ladder, paint some homes and make some money to put towards university. With the blink of an eye this seemingly simple task turned into a life altering and destructive endeavor. I caution you, the story I am about to share with you will not just break your heart and bring you to tears but it will hopefully leave you inspired, realizing “no matter how bad things may seem at one point or another we can make it through”, according to Jessica Kruger, my personal inspiration this month!
At the age of 15 Jessica Kruger had decided to paint homes for a bit, make some money and live life to the fullest! However, while standing on a ladder and painting at her job at College Pro Painters, Jessica Kruger tragically fainted and came crashing down. In that very moment, with her neck broken in four places she knew life would never be the same.
It would have been easy for this fun loving, enthusiastic and excited for life 15 year old to give up and hate the world for what happened. Jessica wasn’t about to let that happen to her. While in rehab, learning to move her joints again, realizing she would not be able to walk and would now be a quadriplegic, she still was not willing to stop! While in rehab, believe it or not, she managed to continue her education, take classes and keep up with her course load.
A girl with a mission today, Jessica Kruger, now a Simon Fraser University English student, has not given up on her life long dream to teach in third-world countries. A challenge perhaps, but after already being sent to Africa on a breathtaking safari through Kenya sponsored by The Sunshine Foundation, she is motivated now more than ever to make it happen…and I have no doubt she will!
Today, Kruger can be found studying away, going out with friends, or playing wheelchair rugby (the youngest girl on the B.C. team in fact), or baking. She shows us that a bump in the road doesn’t stop us from living life to the fullest! You have a dream, then make it happen…no matter the circumstances!
Jessica leaves our listeners and readers with some strong words, “always have courage to push through and believe in yourself!”
It was an honour and an absolute pleasure having the opportunity to highlight such a wonderfully inspiring individual!
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August 2011 #2: Sanna Welyk
07 Sep 2011 by Zahra Premji / No Comments
“From Deepcove to the Dominican,” Sanna Welyk said it herself! This eighteen year old with a passion for change has really taken initiative in her high school career. She definitely has not wasted a free moment. From partaking in humanitarian initiatives, working along side teachers as an assistant in her school and running jean drives to provide jeans for the less fortunate this girl has done it all! But, it does not stop there! She has used her drive for change to impact those around her and create the chance for a better world, a world with change.
Throughout her time in high school, and more specifically her last two years, Sanna could be seen and still can be found volunteering in the Downtown East side Vancouver community along side her mom, making and serving food to the residents there, getting to know them and learning more about the lives of those that many of us do not even take a moment to think about.
However, more near and dear to her heart, Sanna shares with us her humanitarian efforts in the Dominican where she went as a part of a global initiative program started in her school in grade ten. Here she was able to fundraise with her group, and head down to the Dominican to work hands on with locals and start the building of three homes. This experience touched her on a deep level where she was able to learn first hand how truly lucky she is for everything she has waiting for her in Deepcove. It gave her a greater sense of appreciation for the little things in life.
Nonetheless, with all her volunteering, Sanna shows that balance is key. She has been able to preserver in her competitive swimming although “I just do it for fun now,” she says. But she has also remained hard fast on the books and her education, her social life and has excelled in all that she has put her mind to. Sanna is the ideal example if an ordinary person having the ability to do extraordinary things.
With all these changes that she has taken initiative to create in the greater world, she has also given thought to how she could connect her passion to her future. With that being said, Sanna has also decided to base her future on her passion. With a future goal to work with a large non profit or NGO she will be attending Capilano University to take Communications starting this fall, and remaining true to her humanitarian efforts. Sanna shows that once you take that next step and begin that new chapter in your life after high school, you are still able to carry on your goals and passions. Sanna said it best in fact, “if you want to make a change, stop saying and DO IT!”
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