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February YES Students of the Month

Two photos, YES student volunteering, YES student writing on board

Left: Mahir performing trail maintenance volunteer work. Right: Gaura giving a presentation during International Education Week

We are pleased to announce that we have two YES Students of the Month for February! 

Mahir Ibrahim from the Philippines is placed by World Link and hosted in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

Mahir is a kind, caring, and compassionate YES participant. He continually searches for opportunities to help his local community and has already completed over 120 service hours in a wide variety of activities. He volunteered at the first annual Halloween festival in his local community, restored trails in Ute Valley Park, and worked with visitors for the #Wrestlethegap event held at the Olympic and Paralympic Museum to promote girls’ and women’s empowerment through the sport of wrestling. Mahir also baked 50 cookies for World Link’s December Kindness Cookies project to thank his teachers and school staff. At the annual Bob Telmosse’ Foundation Gift Giveaway, he escorted children from low-income families throughout the event center to choose a toy, and during a Pikes Peak United Way holiday event, Mahir worked with the children at the Christmas craft table, served food, and helped with clean up. Since then, Mahir has regularly served food for people in need at Marian House and the Salvation Army food pantry. He volunteered at the local library and was trained as a Student Attorney for Forged Evolution, a peer-led teen court program aimed at preventing future criminal behavior. In addition, he recently joined the youth group at his host family’s church with a goal “to model the real definition of Islam” in his community to help youth better understand people of the Islamic faith.

Mahir Clothing Drive
Mahir volunteering for a clothing drive

As part of International Education Week, Mahir not only gave entertaining and informative presentations, but also organized a winter coat drive at CIVA Charter High School in the Philippine “Bayanihan” spirit, or spirit of communal unity, working together to achieve one goal. He collected over 50 winter coats in just five days! 

Mahir participated in his school’s basketball and ping pong clubs, even founded an International Students club. Mahir’s host school vice principal says the school is ecstatic to have such an amazing student, who is also getting straight As.

Mahir is an excellent cultural ambassador, striving to get the most out of his exchange year and give back all he can. “I chose volunteering as my major platform to serve my community. It is my passion, and I will never regret lending my whole heart for everybody’s common good,” he said.

Gaura India Independence Day
Gaura celebrating India Independence Day

Gaurangi (Gaura) Mehta from India is placed by Greenheart Exchange and hosted in Hallowell, Maine. She has already gotten deeply involved in her school community. Gaura was elected secretary of the junior class at Hall-Dale High School and selected as the secretary of the Student Senate, composed of class officers from all four class years. Working with the Student Senate, Gaura looks for ways to help this group better understand how a governing body works. With the support of the Student Senate advisor, she organized for the five Student Senate officers to sit in on a Hallowell City Council meeting in December. She also leads the event planning committee at school, which organizes homecoming, prom, and graduation.

Gaura is active in music. She plays drums in the school band and the drum set in the school jazz band, and participates in the Japanese Taiko drumming club. She is an honor student, competes on the math team, works on the school yearbook, and is part of the academic decathlon team.

Despite her busy schedule, she is also on the lookout for ways to show kindness to others. Gaura organized a morale-boosting project with the support of the school administration at the end of the fall. She posted uplifting messages on a bulletin board at school for students to take if a message resonated for them. She did this project anonymously, and until now her role as author of the notes was not revealed to the school community.

During International Education Week, Gaura gave 13 presentations to all the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade classrooms in the local elementary school over the course of three days and, at the high school, for the whole junior class of about 60 student and in a senior advisory class.  

Gaura loves sharing Indian culture and traditions and started right after she arrived by celebrating India Independence Day with her host family and friends.

Congratulations, Mahir and Gaura!


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