A young St. Albert hero marched at the front of Edmonton K-Days Parade this year.
Sophia Qaderi has long been recognized as a humanitarian in her school and community. The 17-year-old Paul Kane High student has volunteered for various causes since an early age, starting with sewing clothes for the homeless at her parents’ tailor shop, to now fundraising money to build a clinic in Kenya. Not surprising then, she’s making a name for herself.
On July 17, she was chosen as a Young Hero at Edmonton K-Days, leading a parade that recognized people who make important contributions to their community. The parade included five other community volunteers, and members of the RCMP, Alberta Sheriffs, Edmonton Police Services, Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services.
But Qaderi is not one to boast. Asked what makes her so passionate about helping out, she simply says she likes it.
“I always loved doing it since I was young,” she says, adding that she was inspired after watching the news with her dad. “I always saw problems on the news globally and thought if I can help out in any way I would. Even if it’s small.”
Her contributions have not been small, though. She once waitressed for two years, then went to India and gave away her savings to the less fortunate. And last year, Qaderi and her mom raised $1,700 at the Edmonton Heritage Festival painting henna tattoos. The money went to help Afghan children with school supplies.
Her latest contribution was $2,500 to the Islamic Relief Foundation. The six volunteers nominated to walk in the K-Days parade each received the money to donate to a charity or community cause of their choice. Qaderi said she chose the foundation because of its work in communities struck by natural disaster or war.
Founded in 1978, the foundation is one of the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) major non-governmental partners. Field offices are mostly located on the African continent but also help out in places such as Palestine, India and Haiti.
“I wanted to help out overseas and when I went online, I found out about the foundation,” she says. “They provide education and health and all the necessities for the basic survival needs.”
It’s not all about helping out globally, though. The young woman is also busy in St. Albert, promoting literacy and environmental awareness through the SOARing program, planting trees, and helping others through her school’s social justice club.
Asked what can inspire others to volunteer, she says it’s a great way to meet people and easy to do. “You can just help out locally with, I don’t know, the food bank, picking up garbage, just little things that make the biggest difference,” she says.
