Rana Arif

Rana is an Iraqi Syrian young wāhine born in Aotearoa and raised in the Emirates. She recently graduated from the University of Waikato double majoring in Human Development and Human Resources.

Rana is passionate about Community and Youth Development especially when it comes to the Ethnic and Muslim community.

“Being a young person is not just about your age, it’s about finding your purpose and setting the foundations to what your future might look like. This is why I dedicate a lot of my work to the rangatahi of our community as it’s such an important stage in one’s life. Sometimes all they need is a mentor in their lives, I try to provide a listening ear and simply be there for them”

The projects she has been involved in contribute to creating safe spaces for rangatahi to thrive, Te Tiriti mahi, and serving her Muslim community. in 2022 Rana was named one of the Y25 which brings together 25 of our rising trailblazers each year.

“I do what I do to give back to the community that is serving me.”