PARUL Punjabi Jadish, a Coffs Harbour resident, is a nominee in the Awards Australia’s Connecting Communities Awards for NSW.

Parul cites Mandela, Gandhi and Malala as his leadership inspirations for his tireless work in various not-for-profit roles fostering strong resilient local communities in Coffs Harbour and ending educational inequity globally, to help uplift those on the margins.

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These ethics fit perfectly with the criteria for Awards Australia’s Connecting Communities Awards.

To be a contender, it’s all about the nominee working with local community groups and/or not-for-profits (NFPs) driving grassroots, real life initiatives that demonstrate genuine involvement, long-term value and add to the life of their community.

Parul told News Of The Area, “As Co-Founder & Director of Coffs Connection & Community and LGBTIQ Coffs Connection & Community, we have been bringing together diverse groups and individuals in a spirit of celebration, empowerment and inclusion.”

Segueing into what the award recognises, Parul’s leadership has seen these initiatives fostering a strong sense of community spirit, which plays a vital role in enhancing the way people connect in their community.

“The NFPs have won grants from local, state and federal government and have delivered over 30 key community projects such as the iconic Freedom Feast as part of Refugee Week, Our Coast Pridefest, Science of Happiness programs and Peace Education programs with several local and global community organisations,” said Parul.

Parul also serves as the Co-Convenor for Amnesty Coffs Coast, carries out critical research in Organ Donation registration with SCU and is the Head of Education at AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience).

“AIME is a global grassroots movement for change led by youth to uplift young, disadvantaged kids out of inequality through the power of mentoring and imagination.

“Within the Coffs region, I’ve had the fortune of mentoring 1200+ Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander youngsters since 2017, watching them complete their schooling and march on to university, further training or employment at rates even higher than non-Indigenous kids, thus closing a 35+% gap in educational attainment.”

By Andrea FERRARI