Grade 7 Newmarket student Manha Yusuf is at Queen’s Park as part of the legislative page program this week.
Manha was selected to experience the provincial legislature in person and develop friendships with peers from across the province. Legislative pages meet parliamentary and political figures and learn about Ontario’s Parliament and legislative process.
“I’m really happy about going to the page program, it has been my dream since Grade 1,” said Manha.
Each year, about 150 young students from the province are selected to participate. Pages receive an honorarium during their term of duty.
“I really love the government, it felt cool to me,” said Manha. “I didn’t understand much but, I love being a page there.”
Manha was selected for the program based on her volunteer efforts. She has raised thousands of dollars for Inn From the Cold homeless shelter and other local causes with her sister, Laiba. They sold fruits and vegetables, flowers and nut platters in various drives in 2019 to present.
“It feels good, I love to put smiles on people’s faces,” said Manha.
Her philanthropic efforts were inspired by her aunt, Arooj Chaudhry, who dedicated herself to community service before passing away from cancer at the age of 28.
“She was doing something similar to what Manha was doing,” said Nisa Chaudhry, Manha’s mother. “I took a break for a few years and when these girls were in Grade 1 or 2, I started doing what she was doing, and then these girls took over.”
She was motivated to continue volunteering after a conversation with Christine Elliot, former deputy premier and minister of health, and Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy.
“They inspired me to continue my community service,” she said. “I continued my community service until today, five years, with 4,000 hours and 27 awards.”
The sisters had a back-to-school drive during a previous summer to collect backpacks and school supplies, which were donated to various local organizations for children in need. Manha was recognized with the prestigious Diana Award, presented to youth who are making a difference in their communities.
The sisters created a Stamp Out Stigma for Mental Health Campaign that has raised $54,000 since 2019.
Manha is the second Newmarket resident to participate in the legislative page program this year, following Grade 7 student Skye Baker. During her three weeks at Queen's Park, she will be under the direction of a certified Ontario teacher who will act as the program co-ordinator.
“I think it’s phenomenal, number 1, to have young people like Manha who has done so many great things in the community,” said Gallagher Murphy “That is what contributes to a strong application for these pages. I think it’s absolutely amazing. If you think about how many pages there are in a year, it’s a very tough competition. I think it’s amazing when they were selected because it means they are top of the crop.”
