By Lorna Gordon

Advika and Rihanna Ambassadors have worked on projects to connect with the young people of the community.

The young people of the Hills will be happy to know that their thoughts and feelings about what is happening in our area is being represented to our local council by two very capable young people. Advika Kapoor and Rihanna Soundranayagam were appointed the 2025–2026 Youth Ambassadors through The Hills Shire’s Sydney Hills Youth Ambassador Program last year.

Advika and Rihanna with Hills Shire Mayor, Dr Michelle Byrne

Their appointments were announced by Mayor Michelle Byrne during a special ceremony at The Hills Shire Council, recognising two outstanding young leaders who are already making a significant contribution to their community.

Advika and Rihanna are serving as ambassadors for young people across the Shire by attending community events and Council functions, contributing to forums, and acting as an important representative voice for youth. They work alongside Council to develop and deliver projects designed to engage and support young people locally.

Central to the role is involvement with The Hills Youth Army, Council’s youth volunteer group. Each year, Youth Ambassadors and champions help Council identify youth needs and interests, recruit new Youth Army members and empower young people to take the lead on community-driven initiatives.

Advika Kapoor

For Advika, volunteering began with something simple but powerful. A simple letter.

“I started volunteering with a letter-writing organisation because I noticed a lot of people in the community were silently struggling with their own battles,” she said. “Through my own experiences, I know how much a few kind words can mean to somebody.”

The decision to volunteer her time encouraged her to make a bigger commitment and join other worthy causes. She is now a peer support leader, Duke of Edinburgh participant and leader in the Australian Navy Cadets. Advika was also a Top 10 finalist in the Macquarie Ideas Challenge and Pitch for Purpose, and balances her volunteering with public speaking, performing in musicals, umpiring and playing netball, and working towards publishing her own book.

“Volunteering keeps me grounded,” she said. “It reminds me that there’s so much happening beyond my own life, and that showing up can make a real difference.”

I asked Advika how she manages to juggle her volunteering, school and extra curricular activities, and was not surprised that this mature young woman had it all in hand.

“It can certainly be difficult at times, especially in the midst of school exams! But volunteering is something I genuinely care about, so I make time for it when I can. It’s all about planning ahead and accepting that you can’t do everything perfectly, but just to the best of your ability.”

As Youth Ambassador, Advika is passionate about celebrating diversity through youth-led storytelling, amplifying youth voices and addressing mental health in an honest and inviting way. One of her favourite initiatives so far has been the “Message Tree” project, which encourages young people to share their thoughts and reflections in a safe, creative space. She also mentioned that going to official events and meeting people has been a particular highlight for her.

“It’s been rewarding to see people engage with it and feel comfortable sharing their messages. I’ve also enjoyed attending community events such as the Australia Day Awards ceremony, where I had the honour of presenting the Young Citizen of the Year Award and Highly Commended Award. I met so many so many talented young people! “

Her message to local young people is clear: “Don’t underestimate how much your voices matter just because of your age. If something matters to you, I truly encourage you to speak up about it.”

Rihanna Soundranayagam

For Rihanna Soundranayagam, volunteering quickly grew from an interest into a passion.

“I realised how much support exists in the community and how powerful it is when young people step up,” she said. “It became something I genuinely loved doing rather than just something to add to my resume.”

Rihanna has volunteered as the Social Media Youth Officer for Hills Youth Army for the past two years and serves as Director and Social Media and Marketing Manager for Hills Outreach Volunteering. Her dedication to community engagement and youth participation made the Youth Ambassador role a natural progression.

“Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose,” she said. “It has helped shape who I am by teaching me empathy, leadership and the value of community.”

Currently balancing volunteering with studying for her university degree and part time work, Rihanna says organisation and alignment with her values help to keep her various activities in balance. “I prioritise volunteering because it aligns closely with my passions.”

Her role as Youth Ambassador includes increasing youth engagement in volunteering, expanding local activities for young people and fostering inclusivity across the Shire.

With help from volunteers of the Hills Youth Army, she project managed the Youth Passport initiative, which encourages young people to explore the Hills, attend events and get involved in local opportunities.

“I’ve loved connecting directly with young people and hearing their ideas,” she said. “Youth input is so important when shaping opportunities.”

Rihanna describes feeling incredibly grateful and excited when she learned she had been selected as Youth Ambassador.

“It was really validating to have my commitment recognised, and it motivated me to give my best to the role.”

Her advice to other young people is simple but powerful. “Do not underestimate the impact you can have. Getting involved, whether through volunteering, attending events or sharing your ideas, it really does make a difference.”

Together, Advika and Rihanna represent a generation of thoughtful, driven and community-minded young leaders. Through their combined strengths of creativity, empathy, leadership and a deep commitment to inclusion they are helping ensure that young people across The Hills are not only heard but empowered.

The Youth Ambassador Program continues to play a vital role in connecting Council with the next generation, creating meaningful pathways for youth participation and shaping projects that reflect the real needs and aspirations of the community.

Advika and Rihanna are determined to make their time as Ambassadors count by creating opportunities and proving that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are already making their impact today.