Anhaar Kareem, 17, has been volunteering for most of her life and in 2021, was named Youth Volunteer of The Year and the overall Volunteer of the Year for the Mid Western Sydney Region by the Centre of Volunteering.
Inspired by her grandmother Abla Kadous who founded IWWA (Islamic Women’s Welfare Association) in Lakemba in 2000, Anhaar volunteers on weekends, after school and in the school holidays.
She also volunteers at the Brothers in Need soup kitchen in Punchbowl.
As well, the Year 12 student makes earrings for charity and has raised hundreds of dollars for Australian Indigenous campaign, ‘Change the Record’, the Gaza’s Children’s Fund and has launched her own R U OK? initiative to raise further funds.
Anhaar is the Founder of the IWWA Youth Committee, organising events to empower and engage young Muslim Women in her community, and also runs free public speaking, debating and creative writing workshops in the school holidays.
She says she feels privileged to be able to help others.
“It’s a really nice feeling to give back whenever you can and I would encourage other young people to give volunteering a go as it can be a real eye-opener to issues you may not know about such as homelessness and food insecurity.
“Volunteering is also a great way to pick up skills and it gives you a better picture of what you might want to do in the future; I really enjoy it.”
To find out more or get involved: volunteering.com.au
‘So nice to be able to give back’
NATIONAL Student Volunteer Week (August 5-11) is an opportunity to acknowledge the impact that student volunteers make through volunteering, with this year’s theme ‘Generation Impact’.
