Newsboys Foundation Honours Young Leaders
20 November 2013 at 1:54 pm
Two young Not for Profit leaders have taken out top awards in the inaugural Newsboys Foundation Leadership Awards.
The Newsboys Foundation Awards are designed to recognise people who work or volunteer in community organisations and have inspired young Victorians to do great things.
Geelong woman, Senada Aldobasic, aged 20, won the Newsboys Foundation Community Leadership Award and will spend the $10,000 prize money on professional development. She is currently in Bangladesh helping a trafficked girl reintegrate with her family.
Aldobasic, who is indigenous, is passionate about international human rights, especially the prevention of human trafficking and support for young people who have been trafficked.
“It is great to see a young Indigenous woman win the inaugural Newsboys Foundation Community Leadership Award,” Sandy Shaw, the CEO of the Newsboys Foundation said.
“It was an extremely competitive field of nominations and we congratulate Nada on her impressive level of work in the community.”
Teenager Tasman Cocks-Wheaton won the $5000 Newsboys Foundation Young Leadership Award and plans to use the prize to hone his film and documentary making skills.
During his seven years with the 1st Bright Scout Group, Cocks-Wheaton, 15, organised and led hikes, camps and events. He also planned and led training opportunities, including first aid, camp cooking and water safety.
He is a regular volunteer with an array of community organisations and has helped with several fundraising initiatives in Bright, Victoria, where he lives.
He achieved his Australian Scout Medallion earlier this year and is currently working towards his Queens Scout award in the Venturer section.
“From a very young age Tasman has shown great leadership qualities in his community and has been an inspiration to other young people,” Shaw said.
The Newsboys Foundation provides grants to community organisations working with disadvantaged young people aged 11 – 18 years in Victoria. It started as a Melbourne-based Club for newsboys from 1893 until 1973, and then as a Foundation supporting community organisations working with disadvantaged young people in Victoria.
