Twelve-year-old Ariba Omar has been nominated under the 'One to Watch' category of the New South Wales Women of the Year Awards.
The Year 7 student at Kooringal High School began participating in fundraising events with her parents in Wagga Wagga eight years ago.
Ariba said she raised money through merchandise sales for Cancer Council and garage sales for Country Women's Association on special occasions such as Daffodil Day, Pink Ribbon Day and Red Nose Day.
"I approach people and give them statistics about cancer. I tell them their donation can help in researching a cure for cancer," Ariba, who aspires to be an oncologist, told SBS Hindi.
She has twice donated her hair for the cause. Ariba volunteers on weekends without compromising on her school and studies. She also raised gold coins at school on Mufti Day and Waffle Day.
Ariba Omar (c) with former deputy prime minister Michael MCCormack and his wife. Source: Supplied by Saba Nabi
"My principal and teachers appreciate me for my volunteering work. Sometimes they even mention my name in the school newsletter," Ariba said. She also received the nomination for Wagga's Young Citizen of the Year award this year.
Ariba draws her inspiration from her parents, who are clinical pharmacists. The family hails from India's eastern state of Bihar, and they moved to Australia in 2011 when Ariba was two.
Ariba's mother Dr Saba Nabi, who works for the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, has been nominated for the 2022 IABCA Business Leader of the Year award.
Dr Saba Nabi (left) with her daughter Ariba Omar and husband Dr Syed Haris Omar. Source: Supplied by Dr Saba Nabi
The Indian Australian Business Alliance (IABCA), established in 2014, aims to promote understanding between the peoples and institutions of Australia and India.
Melbourne-based lawyer Mannie Kaur Verma is 29 and a mother of two. She was recently appointed to the boards of Refugee Victoria and YWCA Australia.
But her journey to the boards of these non-profits was not easy. Mrs Verma, who calls herself an , was nine when her family moved from India's northern state of Punjab to Australia's Melbourne.
She said her father worked as a math and science teacher but quit due to 'racism'.
Melbourne-based lawyer Mannie Kaur Verma with her husband and their children. Source: Supplied by Mannie Kaur Verma
"It was hard for our parents to fit in which made it difficult for us to socialise. As young kids, we sort of experienced an identity crisis where we didn't fit into the Australian way - for instance, we weren’t allowed to have sleepovers - but because we migrated from India at such a young age, we were also not truly Indian," Mrs Verma said.
"We used to visit Gurudwara Sahib [the Sikh temple] every Sunday, and that was the best outing for us," she recalled fondly.
Mrs Verma said her father did casual jobs to support the family. "I do remember, I used to ask my parents why our grocery trolley is not packed like others," she said.
Ms Verma, who completed an off-campus law degree from Deakin University, married her lawyer husband at 21. She has worked as a full-time paralegal for 12 years.
"As a young woman of colour, I am passionate about advocating and empowering local communities to address the issues affecting young girls and generally people from diverse cultural backgrounds," she said.
"I am passionate about advocating for policy change from an intersectional lens. We need people with lived experiences to voice their concerns. For example, migrant students who have been exploited by their employers," she added.
Ms Verma also provides pro-bono support to victims of domestic violence and refugees.
She has won or received nominations for several awards, including Australasian Lawyer - Rising Star 2022, Women's Weekly - Women of the Future Finalist 2021, Women in Law Awards - Thought Leader of the Year - Finalist 2021 and 7News Young Achievers – Leadership Award Semi-finalist 2021.
Other awards include Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 - Pro Bono Finalist 2021, Herald Sun - Top Legal Eagle 2021, Australia Day Study Tour Award and Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholar in her legal career spanning over seven years.
