Former Young Muslim Australian of the Year meets young Malaysian Muslim leaders
On 4 June, Haji Ridwaan Jadwat, Counsellor, Australian High Commission, hosted a luncheon for young Malaysian Muslim leaders in honour of Ms Yassmin Abdel-Magied. Yassmin was an Australian representative at the Asia Pacific Roundtable and a participant in the 2nd ASEAN-Australia Emerging Leaders Programme, held in Kuala Lumpur from 28 May-1 June. The luncheon gave Yassmin an opportunity to connect with young Malaysians, including emerging Muslim leaders, to celebrate the diversity that both of our countries share.
Yassmin is an Australian Muslim who migrated to Australia from Sudan with her family. Yassmin, who trained as an engineer in Brisbane, is the founder of Youth Without Borders, a forum that empowers youth to work together for the implementation of positive change within their communities. She was selected as Young Muslim Australian of the Year in 2007 and as Young Queenslander of the Year in 2010.
Guests included officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Puteri UMNO, ABIM, and student leaders from the International Islamic University of Malaysia. Mr Miles Kupa, the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, and Ms Jane Duke, Deputy High Commissioner, also attended.
Islam has a long and rich history in Australia, which predates European settlement. Today, Australia is home to nearly half a million Muslims. Australian Muslims are ethnically diverse and come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Some 40 per cent of Australian Muslims were born in Australia, and the rest immigrated to Australia from over 70 different countries, including Lebanon, Turkey, Sudan and Malaysia.
Mr Kupa said: “Yassmin is an example of the increasingly prominent role played by Muslims in Australian public life and a wonderful young ambassador for Australia. The lunch was a great opportunity for Yassmin to engage with young Malaysian Muslim leaders.”
Yassmin Abdel-Magied (in red jacket), founder of Youth Without Borders from Australia with guests at a luncheon hosted by Haji Ridwaan Jadwat (right), Counsellor, Australian High Commission.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied (in red jacket), founder of Youth Without Borders from Australia interacting with guests from the International Islamic University of Malaysia at a luncheon hosted by Haji Ridwaan Jadwat, Counsellor, Australian High Commission.