Akram Azimi, 2013 Young Australian of the Year - ROC Event - Thursday 6 October

AKRAM AZIMI - YOUNG AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR IN 2013 - IS PASSIONATE ABOUT A RANGE OF SOCIAL ISSUES, EVERYTHING FROM EXTREME POVERTY, POLIO AND PHILANTHROPY TO RECONCILIATION. If you think his name sounds familiar, that's because Akram is a former member of ROC, as well as End Polio Ambassador who contributed to the government's funding commitment of $80 million for polio eradication in 2014, and another $20 million in 2014. Akram was born in Afghanistan in the middle of a raging cival war. After fleeing with his family with just the clothes on their back, they travelled to Pakistan and then were lucky enough to receive a visa to come to Australia in 1999. Initially feeling like a social outcast at school, he went on to become his school's top academic student and was elected as head boy. Inspired by his teachers, Akram went on to teach at university across multiple disciplines, and has used his leadership and pastoral skills to mentor young people in remote and rural Western Australia. In 2011 he co-founded a student-run initiative I Am the Other, which aims to address reconciliation issues at the non-Indigenous end of the equation. Akram has also mentored a Special Olympics athlete to help raise community awareness of disability issues. Please join us next week for this wonderful opportunity to hear Akram's story, in his own words.

COST - $30 7:00am for 7:30am start, Upstairs restaurant at The University Club of WA, payment at the door | RSVP to secretary@rotarycrawley.org by midday Tuesday 4th October.

Guests and non Rotarians are very welcome!