Hamilton YMCA awards peace medals

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YMCA Peace medals for 2015 were awarded this morning to four individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to promoting tolerance, social justice, and community cohesion.

Recipients and nominees were honoured at a breakfast in Hamilton that attracted about 500 supporters. The YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford received 12 nominations in three categories including individual youth, individual adult, and youth group.

Ray cunningham, founding member of Culture of Peace Hamilton was the individual adult winner, while
the individual youth winner award was a tie between Alexandria Montague and Muneeb Muzaffar.

Muneeb: ”Within the community I’m involved with City Kidz which is, we run Saturday programs for at risk children or even children who are trying to have a fun time on Saturdays. It usually ranges from 7 to 12 year olds. We provide food, take them to the show.”

“Within my own community I’m involved with the Riverdale plan team so we plan activities for the community. Just being recognized for what I am doing makes me strive to do even more and hope I can do that for my community.”

Alexandria: ”I tutor students during my lunch time. I also deliver morning announcements as well as help with the Grade 9 transition into high school.”

“In the community I co-founded along with my older sister Ashley Montague, an organization called Sisters for Sisters and we help to raise funds and build awareness for women-focused organizations. So in March we held a charity breakfast for the native womens’ centre which raised over $1,000, and we recently a toiletry drive for them.”

The keynote speaker was Jacob Lief, co-founder and CEO of Ubuntu Education Fund which supports raising orphaned and vulnerable children in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.