26 Aug Volunteer in Profile: Malika Daya

Malika Daya’s experience with Youth Central has been one-of-a-kind.
 
She started out volunteering with the Youth Volunteer Corps at festivals, homeless shelters, and more. Then, she joined Youth Are Awesome, became a Junior Editor a few months later, and got the opportunity to experience different elements of the arts in Calgary. It was there that she says she re-kindled her dream of being a performer.
 
“I was quite shy when I first started volunteering; but as I volunteered, I learned about myself,” she says. “When I got to attend the PARKLUXE Fashion show as a blogger for Youth Are Awesome, that night lit my inspiration candle that had seemed to fade away for a while, and has now brought me back on my feet. In the first five minutes of my arrival, the photographers had already snapped five pictures of me! Not to sound self-centred, but I love being in front of the camera; it’s an internal type of happiness. For me this event took me to a different world, one of sophistication, of talent, of art. I loved getting dolled up and attending the event. In some ways I even felt like I was a part of the industry.”
 
Malika has also attended and wrote about the REFRESHED hip-hop festival, interviewed the band Bear Mountain at Sled Island Music Festival, interviewed Calgary Flames player Curtis Glencross, and interviewed Cason Crane, the first LGBTQ person to climb the seven summits of the world.
 
In addition to her involvement with Youth Are Awesome, Malika continues to sign up for as many Youth Volunteer Corps projects as she can. “I think it’s so important to keep finding a way to help out and give back to the people around us,” she says. “We have it, so why not give our time and knowledge?”