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He’s a founder of the Granada Muslim Student Association, serves on the board of the city of Livermore’s Youth Advisory Commission, and volunteers with the Islamic Center of Livermore and Open Heart food kitchen. Sounds like a well-seasoned philanthropist, right? Wrong. Meet Umayr Sufi, a 16-year-old who is on his way to changing ideas about Muslims in the United States.
Umayr was born in Chicago, Ill., in 1992 to Pakistani parents who emigrated from the Lahore region of Pakistan. He and his family eventually moved to Livermore, a town in Northern California.
Umayr is concerned about injustices committed toward Muslims in this country, and he laments the perception some people have of Muslims as wanting to harm, rather than help, their fellow Americans. These concerns prompted Umayr to become more involved with the Muslim community in Livermore.
A few months ago, Umayr started the Granada Muslim Student Association, which has worked on the Granada High School Clean Up, Earth Day and the Ramadan Can Food Drive, which benefited local residents of various faiths. Through his leadership, the Granada Muslim Student Association has made a name for itself and been featured in the Granada High School newspaper.
Umayr is particularly focused on helping those who are struggling in his town. He regularly volunteers at the Open Heart Kitchen in Livermore, a non-profit meal service dedicated to serving those in need.
"I want to show that there are millions of Muslims like me in America helping out our fellow neighbors," Umayr says.
Although he may only be 16, Umayr Sufi has a long track record of educating people about the beliefs of Islam. He says he has always wanted to be a person who can talk to critics of Islam and clear their misconceptions.
"I see myself as a Muslim who is ever stronger in his faith and still working to help mankind and the image of Islam," he says.
Posted July 14, 2008
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