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This award recognises an outstanding individual who has made a positive contribution to the community which has led to greater community harmony. This can be in any area that has made an impact such as to the welfare and wellbeing of communities including with children and young people, families, seniors etc.
Eva Mwakichako
Nyat Mulugeta
Eva has been serving the community for over ten years, supporting and empowering new migrants to become more self-reliant and equipping them with the life skills needed to operate independently.
In the last five years she has made a different to over 700 community members, helping them to navigate their life in Australia and access services and grants.
Eva is the 2014 recipient of the Above and Beyond Partnership Award, from the Department of Human Services and the 2016 recipient of the Western Australian Multicultural Recognition Award, for outstanding individual.
She is passionate about the work she does and is looking to the future in a way that allows her to keep making a difference.
Njomo Muiruri
Nyat Mulugeta
Njomo served as Vice President and later as President for the Kenyan Community of WA(KCWA). Whilst in office, he organised two first ever events, the first being the Women’s Gala event, in recognition of the role women play in harmonising and bringing unity into the community. The second being a community Sports Day, in appreciation of the sporting spirit to unite community members.
Both events were successful and have gone on to become annual events celebrated within the Kenyan community.
As a champion for unity and harmony in the community, Njomo has successfully played a key role in organising fundraisers, commonly known as Harambees, to support community members in hardship or facing crisis and his tireless efforts have brought Kenyan community together.
Njomo has been recognised by the Kenyan High Commission, for his role in the Kenyan Community of WA.
Pastor Eric Chimu
Nyat Mulugeta
Pastor Chimu is an advocate for the advancement of women. His work in the community has seen him support women from African refugee backgrounds to develop self-leadership skills, by mastering the English language, l discovering their life path and encouraging them to do more and be more, for themselves and the next generation.
Overcoming many personal hurdles to do the work, Pastor Chimu has organised and successful held an event for African women in the community on developing personal leadership, he has championed employment for women and created new levels of awareness with regards to family and domestic violence. He has brought community together to learn and support one another and continues in his efforts with a vision to hold a new event in 2020 called Developing English Language Skills and Employment.
Pastor Chimu is involved with a number of organisations including MeryCare, The WA Police and Centrelink and continue to be a role model and source of support for women and the next generation.
Tandi Kuwana
Nyat Mulugeta
Tandi has worked in the mental health sector for over 14 years, over which time she has contributed to mentoring and supporting young African women, sat on the federal and local government boards for mental health policy and featured in a number of publications and radio including the Huffington Post, the West Australian and ABC radio.
Her passion is to change the narrative around mental health in community and improve people’s mental health literacy by removing the stigma attached to mental illnesses in African communities. Tandi has championed her cause and joined forces with others in the community advocating for change including Bella Ndiyazike, Rumbi Mudzengi and Miss Africa Perth’s Tinsea.
Tandi is the recipient of multiple awards, receiving the 2016 Nifnex Top 100 Influential People in WA award, the 2018 SANE Hocking Fellow and was appointed to co-chair the Recovery College Expert Panel by the Mental Health Commission in 2018.