Strong young women recognised for efforts

Sonali Kagithala, Isabella Percy and Kate Johnston have been nominated for the Zonta Club of Albury-Wodonga’s Young Women in Public Affairs Award.

The winner will be announced at the club’s annual Women’s Day dinner on Thursday, March 8.

Ms Percy and Ms Kagithala were Albury Youth Council’s 2017 mayor and deputy mayor respectively and continue to volunteer, while Ms Johnston is studying Political Science and International Security at the Australian National University.

Ms Kagithala, 17, is in her final year at James Fallon High School and hopes to work in humanitarian aid or a similar field one day.

“I think having women in leadership is important; I have lots of roles throughout my community but mostly at school, and 10 out of 16 in our student prefect body are females,” she said.

“This award means there’s more promotion of women in public affairs and it also means more representation of different people in society; I’m a multicultural person.”

Ms Percy, whose achievements include participation in the anti-bullying event Big Shout, is passionate about equality.

“My mum was the youngest in her family … she studied at university, was the first out of her siblings to get a degree, and then she travelled the world,” she said.

“She’d done what she wanted to do and I think that’s why I’m so strong in my belief women are independent.

“We can maintain being feminine if we would like to be, while still being assertive and be respected.

“I think sexism is being pushed out, as more and more women are confident to say ‘This isn’t OK’.”

Ms Johnston, who has volunteered for Wodonga Council and hopes to work in foreign affairs, is also a “massive believer” in pushing for gender equality at a local level.

“From calling out insulting, misogynistic behaviour to actively challenging gender norms – like the expectation that women aren't to be outspoken – each of these actions normalises gender equality on an immediate, personal level,” she said.

“(This will) then allow for the development of a generation of strong, empowered women who will feel confident to take on jobs in position of power and go on to advocate for our sisters in developing nations.”