Madeleine Zoumpoulis has been recognised with the City of Canterbury Bankstown Youth Award for her achievements in sport.
She joins a number of other inspirational youth who were recognised this week by the City of Canterbury Bankstown.
After being forced to flee her war-torn country, 16-year-old Adila Musavi was also recognised for her inspirational achievements with a City of Canterbury Bankstown Children and Youth Award.
Adila, who attends school in Birrong, lives with her family in Western Sydney after fleeing Afghanistan three years ago.
“We came here when the Taliban took over and we had just 48 hours to get out before the airports were closed. It was the worst experience I’ve ever had,” Adila said.
“Going to school, playing sports, or even going outside without being fully covered would not have been possible if I had stayed.”
Communicating without knowing a word of English and fitting in with the other kids at school was tough, but Adila is showing her teachers and peers that she can do anything she puts her mind to.
“My only goal has been to study and do those things that I couldn’t do in Afghanistan,” she said.
Adila has gone on to win several academic medallions for excelling across all subject areas and received the Youth – Inspiration Award at the 2024 CBCity Children and Youth Awards ceremony, held last night.
“I want to show it to my cousins and friends in Afghanistan – I wish they were here and we could receive awards together,” Adila said.
Others to be awarded included 11-year-old Kaison Brown, who was recognised with a Children’s – Inspiration Award for his resilience after being diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease.
At the age of five, the Milperra local was diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and was given a short timeframe to live. Despite needing regular blood transfusions, preventer puffers and antibiotics, Kaison didn’t let his diagnoses get in the way of living life to the fullest.
Six years on, Kaison is in remission and running at state level cross country and playing national OZTAG.
“I will never let being sick stop me from doing what I love doing,” Kaison said.
He’s also recently completed a 5km run to raise funds for the charity Life Care, to help those going through similar illnesses to what he experienced.
Kaison said he was grateful for winning the award and hopes to inspire people to “never give up what you love doing.”
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said he was touched by the heart-warming stories of the young people who are making a difference in the community.
“The future of our City is looking extremely bright having these kids who are already driving, motivating and achieving so much,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“These awards are all about celebrating their efforts and encouraging them to keep up the good work.”
CBCity Children and Youth Award 2024 recipients
Children’s category:
- Community Involvement – Fatima Alam, Amelia Bastawrous, Isaac Chen and Lejla Sinanovic
- Inspiration – Noah Bartolo Stafford, Kaison Brown, Antonio Lopez and Mehran Mahmoodi
- Leadership – Benjamin Bracken, Omar Ismail, Isabella Sampson and Heleni Tokelau
Youth category:
- Academic achievement – Sireen Al Khaled
- Community Involvement – Leo Nguyen
- Creative and Performing Arts – Khushbakht Kamran
- Inspiration – Adila Musavi
- Leadership – Cobalt Walsh
- Sporting – Madeleine Zoumpoulis
