A young Muslim girl has received the new Respectful Citizenship Award from the governor of Wolfville in eastern Canadian maritime province of Nova Scotia in recognition of her efforts in building interfaith relations and collecting charity for those in need.
“She is kind, conscientious and mature beyond her years,” Angie Rushton, the teacher of grade 8 Douah Shakshuki, told the Kings County Register.
“She lives it.”
Donning her Islamic headscarf, or hijab, Shakshuki appeared recently to pick up her award.
The grade 8 student was nominated by her teacher who described her as a hard working student and natural leader.
The distinguished abilities of Shakshuki appeared when she was in Grade 6.
The young girl organized an presented a cultural power point which allowed her to explain to her classmates the reasons behind her hijab.
Along with her efforts to correct misconceptions surrounding her faith, the young Muslim student has also been active in charity work, participating in a ‘Free the Children’ well project at Wolfville School.
She and two friends have also been holding craft and baking sessions as a way of paying it forward.
Receiving the award from Wolfville’s Lieutenant Governor J.J. Grant, Shakshuki described the event as inspirational, giving her an opportunity to listen to the accomplishments of other students.
Being the youngest in her family, she added that her older siblings and parents were good role models for her.
Muslims make around 1.9 percent of Canada’s 32.8 million population, and Islam is the number one non-Christian faith in the North American country.
A recent survey has showed the overwhelming majority of Muslims are proud to be Canadian.
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