Join the Youth Week WA Ambassadors from 2019 and 2020 for a conversation about what’s important to young people today.
Each year, the Department of Communities invites nominations from young people aged 18-25 from across Western Australia, to represent their peers as Youth Ambassador for Youth Week WA. Hear from this year’s ambassadors - Haseeb Riaz and Zahra Al Hilaly - and last year’s ambassadors - Bella Ndayikeze and Zal Kanga-Parabia - and ask questions about what’s important to you.
Details
When: Friday 29 May, 12.30 - 1.30pm
Platform: Zoom (link will be emailed to you the day before the event)
About the Ambassadors
Zal Kanga-Parabia
Zal Kanga-Parabia is a Western Australia, Whadjuk Noongar boodja, based performer, freelance photographer and creative director passionately working in the spaces of music, interactions with the natural world, science communication, reconciliation and diversity. Zal loves to dive, hike and rock climb. He studied a Bachelor of Arts (Photomedia and Physics) at Edith Cowan University and works for Propel Youth Arts WA, performs as Ru, Koondarm and Walyalup Kannajil and is immersed in freelance photography and film projects.
Zal loves to chat about culture, identity, nature, art, song, dance, physics and specially to do so surrounded by trees. As Advocacy Development Officer, Zal is excited to bring knowledge and understanding to the sector and Propel and to help create an arts community that reflects the Australian community and culture.
Bella Ndayikeze
Bella Ndayikeze was born in Burundi, but her family quickly fled to Tanzania when she was one because of war. She grew up in a refugee camp in Tanzania, with her mother working for UNHCR and father working as a teacher. She lived in the refugee camp for seven years before her family was granted a humanitarian visa to Australia. Since that time, Bella has gone on to become an athlete, Australia’s first black African female AFL coach, community leader, and hip-hop artist. She was also employed by the Federal Member for Cowan and became a member of the first ever Youth Ministerial Advisory Council with the WA State Government.
Bella is also on the Board of Joondalup Hospital and many more community committees. In spite of her hardships, she has recently formed an exciting platform for young people to explore opportunities for self-expression and the freedom to speak about their passions and aspirations. These platforms include (BN Collective, Mental Health Discussion, Rose Run Movement, BNC Mentoring). Bella hopes to create long-term change through ongoing activities with youth.
Zahra Al Hilaly
Zahra Al Hilaly is 19 years old and a first generation Australian to refugee parents from Iraq and Palestine. She is studying a double major in Law and Journalism at the University of Western Australia.
Zahra is a leader in the multicultural community, values unique perspectives and works closely with young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to foster their involvement in the broader community. She is passionate about developing her knowledge of youth engagement for multicultural communities.
Haseeb Riaz
Haseeb Riaz is 19 years old and is currently working as a Coordinator for Dr YES, running high school peer-to-peer health education sessions to equip students with healthy harm-minimising and decision-making skills. He is enrolled in a direct pathway position to the Doctor of Medicine course and was awarded the top UWA undergraduate Fogarty Foundation Scholarship.
Haseeb is an advocate for youth issues and is passionate about young people having a voice. He co-founded the Man Up project, that empowers young men with the tools to develop their positive masculinity and intends to deliver the program to schools.
About KickstART Virtual
22 - 29 May 2020
For 10 years KickstART has been the flagship event for Youth Week WA, however things are a little different in 2020.
As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent live event cancellations, Propel Youth Arts WA is presenting KickstART Virtual: a week-long online festival of free workshops, talks, and hangouts, specifically tailored to young creative people in WA, and developed by Creative Coordinator Kobi Arthur Morrison with the Youth Week WA Planning Committee.
KickstART takes place on Noongar Boodjar. We acknowledge the ownership and are grateful for the custodianship of the people who originate from the Whadjuk nation. We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia. We pay our respect to Elders past and present. We are committed to reconciliation and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
KickstART Virtual is presented by Propel Youth Arts WA and is funded by the Government of Western Australia through the Department of Communities and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. KickstART is also sponsored by Lotterywest and the City of Perth.