The accomplishments of two young people from Wyndham have seen them nominated for the 2017 Victorian Young Achiever Awards
Mehak Sheikh from Tarneit was nominated for the Saward Dawson Community Service and Social Impact Award for her outstanding contributions in volunteering, community service and advocacy.
The 21-year-old has been at the forefront of the Humans of Brimbank community photo project, and last year launched the Bags of Hope project to provide homeless people with essential toiletries and food items in hand-stitched bags.
John Gai from Wyndham Vale was a semi-finalist for the Bartercard Online Achievement Award. As an online entrepreneur, the 22-year-old has created online shopping website Mosaq Solutions, a digital media company.
The Awards were presented by Minister for Youth Affairs, Jenny Mikakos, in Flemington on Friday, 26 May.
Wyndham City’s Learning City portfolio holder, Cr Josh Gilligan, congratulated both of the young people for their outstanding achievements.
“Both Mahek and John have shown themselves to be tremendously talented young people with bright futures ahead of them,” Cr Gilligan said.
“Mehak is a member of Wyndham’s Youth Task Force Committee and the newly formed Wyndham Youth Council Committee. She has previously been a recipient of the Leaders in Communities Award from the University of Melbourne and the Gorton Young Leaders Award,” Cr Gilligan said, adding that in addition to John’s many achievements, he is the founder of Rolling Dice Production Music Group, a rap group signed to LAZ Entertainment.
“Both of these young people are great examples of why I and the rest of Wyndham City Council are so confident in the potential of our future leaders. On behalf of the entire Wyndham community I would like to congratulate them on their achievements, which I’m sure will be the first of many,” Cr Gilligan said.
“Through Wyndham City’s Youth Services we support the achievements and development of young people like Mehak and John. Young people aged 12-25 who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of community service, sport, arts and culture are also encouraged to apply for a Mayoral Youth Award, which includes a grant of $500,” he added.
For more information on applying for a Mayoral Youth Award visit https://goo.gl/S4zFPi or call Wyndham youth Services on 8734 1355
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