Newzealand: Community award to Hindu youth leader

Community Award for Hindu Youth

Rotorua District Community Awards were presented last night in recognition of outstanding achievements and outstanding service to the Rotorua community.

Rotorua District Community Awards were introduced in 1992 by the Rotorua District Council. These awards recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups in the area of community service in a public ceremony to mark the community’s appreciation of their contributions to society.

Awards for Youth Section (15-25 years) were introduced in 1999 for the Rotorua youth who have demonstrated an outstanding civic responsibility or community service or have made a significant difference to the Rotorua community.

This year Murali Krishna Magesan, a volunteer of Hindu Youth New Zealand, the youth division of Hindu Council of New Zealand, was one of the youth recognised by the Rotorua District Council for his outstanding achievements and contributions to the Rotorua community. Murali is the Head Prefect of the Western Heights High School, Rotorua.

After receiving the award, Murali thanked the Hindu Council of New Zealand, the school and the District Council for helping him to grow as a youth leader.

“The youth leadership training I received through the Hindu Council of New Zealand and related organisations helped me to develop a sense of responsibility and commitment to community, and encouraged me to volunteer for the benefit of community,” he said.

“Getting a youth award, that too during the ongoing world-wide celebration of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary, is a great feeling.”

Swami Vivekananda had electrified not just Hindu youth but all through his work and words during the course of his worldwide travels more than 100 years ago.

Murali has been a volunteer and committee member of Rotorua Deepawali Festival and Rotorua Holi Festival since their inception in 2008 and 2010, respectively; coordinator of Rotorua Holi Festival this year; had organised Sitar concert in Rotorua with international musicians and artists; and received the Kizuna Project 2012 Scholarship sponsored by Government of Japan to visit Japan to learn about the impact of tsunami and its present condition.

Murali was a Youth Councillor of Rotorua District Council; Member of Student Council, Board of Trustees, and currently the Head Prefect at the Western Heights High School.

Murali organised the Holi – the Hindu festival of colours – at the Western Heights High School in Rotorua this year. This annual celebration bridges social and personal differences, bringing people and communities together.

He says that his experience as a Youth Councillor at the Rotorua District Council helped him to focus on contributions to make Rotorua a better place to live, which motivated him to organise Holi celebrities in his school.

 “It is good to see our youth are recognised for their leadership, achievement and their voluntary work to the community” said Mr Vinod Kumar, President of Hindu Council of New Zealand.

“Our youth have been recognised before and the awards like these will help motivate more youth to participate, contribute and take leadership roles in future.”