By Alesha Capone
Teenager Joann Manoj Jacob, who is passionate about social justice and equality, has been named as recipient of this month’s One Wyndham award.
The Wyndham council award recognises residents aged between 12 and 25 who positively contribute to the community.
Mayor Adele Hegedich, said Joann was an inspiring role model for other youth.
Joann, 14, said she was surprised and honoured to receive the One Wyndham award.
Joann last year won the year 7-9 division of the Parliament Prize competition, which invites students to submit a statement to Parliament that they would make if they were an MP.
Joann submitted a video speech about the challenges faced by indigenous Australians, such as the fact there have been 432 Aboriginal deaths in custody since 1991.
“I chose to speak about racism, as that topic is very important to me,” Joann said.
In 2020, Joann also won a first and second prize for her poetry in the Imagination Creation Writing Competition, run by Wyndham council and Western Union Writers.
At age 13, Joann had a comedic article about her pet dog published in Reader’s Digest
She has also received a Julia Gillard Award for her commitment to civics and citizenship, which was presented to her at school.
Joann said she would potentially like to study law and enter politics in the future.
“I think it is really important for more voices for women and people of colour to be heard in politics,” she said
For more information about the One Wyndham award see: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/services/youth-services/awards-competitions/one-wyndham
