MURDOCH student Maisara Muzaffar took home the Youth Award at the 2024 WA Multicultural Awards earlier this month.
Ms Muzaffar, 19, is the founder of Multicultural Youth Sorority, which gives young women from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to talk about what’s going on in their lives.
Born in Bangladesh, Ms Muzaffar herself says MY Sorority was created after she identified the need for safe environments for girls and young women who share similar experiences to come together and talk.
• Maisara Muzaffar won the multicultural youth award. Photo
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“It’s a safe space to encourage discussions in a non-judgemental space,” Ms Muzaffar said.
“I just love the fact that I can give these young girls an opportunity to talk about taboo topics that they might not be able to, or feel comfortable to talk about in other spaces.
“It’s empowering and inspiring when women from diverse backgrounds come together,” Ms Muzaffar said.
“Seeing how many similarities we have together even though we’re from different cultures draws us closer together.
“Having something like that when I was younger would have been really helpful for me.”
Ms Muzaffar wears many hats: she works as an electorate officer for WA Senator Fatima Payman, was leader of the Opposition in the WA Youth Parliament, and is the cultural ambassador for the City of Canning.
A law student at Murdoch Uni, she is also an advocacy officer for the WA Justice Association, and equity and advocacy officer for the Law Society at Murdoch University.
Ms Muzaffar is also a volunteer and board member for Ubuntu Australia in which she facilitates English conversational classes and material aide for new immigrants, and sits on the City of Gosnells Youth Advisory Council.
Ms Muzaffar says she will “keep all doors open” as to what her career path looks like, but the shaker-and-mover seems to be destined to make an impact.
“I’m really passionate about advocacy and policy, so if I get the opportunity to take up politics in the future I definitely will.”
Ms Muzaffar says she is “very privileged” to have won the youth award and is grateful for the opportunity to highlight her work. She says it helps motivate her to keep going
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER