Kamran Ahmed. Photo: Jon Hewson. d491807 communitynews.com.au
Camera IconKamran Ahmed. Photo: Jon Hewson. d491807 communitynews.com.au Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Coogee’s Kamran Ahmed semi finalist in Young Achiever Awards

Jessica NicoCockburn Gazette

COOGEE’S Kamran Ahmed knows how to keep himself busy.

The University of Notre Dame student was just nine years old when he first started volunteering with St John Ambulance as a junior first aider tasked with attending small community events.

These days, Mr Ahmed is in his 12th year helping with St John Ambulance and has added close to a dozen organisations to his volunteering resume including Homeless Run Perth, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Camp Quality, AIME and Night Hoops.

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“Helping people was something I was accustomed to as a child, I have fond memories of mum and dad helping friends and family who were in need and my parents would always give me small change to go and drop off to a street beggar or a busker,” he said.

“Volunteering and giving back to those in need is a big part of my religious teachings and I believe they were a big influence on my parents who passed that onto my siblings and I.”

He said volunteering was a way for him to give back to his community.

“I actually find it very easy to juggle volunteering, work, uni and friends, I really enjoy the volunteering that I do so I don’t see it as a burden but rather something I look forward to doing,” he said.

“I volunteer for organisations which I am passionate about the causes they represent; I am extremely passionate about working with groups who are marginalised and disadvantaged in society.

“My desire to see change in the structures of society so that we move towards equality as a community, I can’t do work in all the different fields like government, health and education without a degree or qualifications, but I am able to volunteer in these areas and provide help and insight which will hopefully lead to long term sustainable change.”

Kamran Ahmed. Photo: Jon Hewson.
Camera IconKamran Ahmed. Photo: Jon Hewson. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Recently one of just two national winners of the St John Ambulance Norma Bell National Youth Leadership Award, Mr Ahmed has also been named a semi finalist in the Community Service and Volunteering category of the Young Achiever Awards WA in recognition of his dedication to the community.

It’s an honour to be named as a semi finalist for my category, and to be recognised amongst so many amazing people young people,” he said.

“The youth are the leaders of tomorrow so we need to identify them and give them a platform to be recognised so that they can continue the work they do and benefit our communities.”