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This category recognises a young African Australian aged 18 to 25 years who has demonstrated leadership in the community. The person may demonstrate leadership qualities such as mentorship through involvement in entertainment, sports, coaching or other pursuits and contributions and is regarded by others as a setting a good example.
Tinashe Jakwa
Nyat Mulugeta
Tinahse has served as a contributor to UWA’s Africa Research and Engagement Centre (AfREC) for four years, over which time she has organised and chaired public forums relevant to the African diaspora in Australia. Tinahse has a passion for changing the narrative about Africa and African communities in Australia to one in which the Australian audience is better informed about where African migrants and refugees come from.
Tinashe has appeared on a number of national television and radio
programs providing commentary on these and other political developments.
She is a member of the African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific and the UWA’s African Student Union.
Elmi Ali
Nyat Mulugeta
Elmi is an active community champion for young people. He sits on the committee for Common Goal, a joint venture between WA Police, Edmund Rice and Football West. He is the innovator of Street Football an initiative with Football West to strategically target at risk youth in shopping centres.
Elmi has also established Communities Championships, Harmony Cup and the Female Swim and Wellbeing Program which attracted over 400 CALD females to participate.
Elmi is the recipient of the 2019 Young Community Citizen of the Year award, the 2018 Neighbourhood Hero for the City of Canning award, has been recognised for her contribution to the International Visitors Leadership Program and the World Economic Forum.
Elmi works to connect community members on a personal scale to integrate their personal life stories and drive real change.
Linda Iriza
Nyat Mulugeta
Linda’ heart belongs with the youth. She has been working to create a safe space for youth in the African community both here and overseas. She is co-founder of the platform Soul Alphabet, an initiative run by women, that empowers Afrikans and people of colour through arts, music and the creative arts. To date Soul Alphabet has run five events including one in Rwanada, where they have raised funds for charity and supported Afrikan women and
children.
As the Founder for Nuru Tours,Linda’s passion for the empowerment and education of youth has extended to include tours that seek to connect local Perth youth with Afrikan youth worldwide. She is an active member of the Rwandan community and writes poems as an expression of her work and commitment.
Linda continues to seek opportunities to bring youth together, to share the challenges and inspire them to big brighter futures where their dreams come true. As a community leader she is going first on this path and is looking forward to being a role model for many more youth through her work.