Latest news with #WomensDay
The Citizen
16-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
St John's learner leads with passion as Johannesburg Junior Council co-mayor
At just 16 years old, Oliver Bouilliart is living proof that leadership knows no age. The Grade 11 St John's College pupil, and co-mayor of the Johannesburg Junior Council (JJC), is already making waves, as a student leader and a compassionate voice for change across Johannesburg's richly diverse communities. Despite his demanding schedule, he juggles 10 academic subjects, leads as head of the matric dance committee, and is actively involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities. His secret? 'If you love what you do, it doesn't feel like work,' he says with a smile. Read more: The Johannesburg Junior Council took to the streets on Womens Day Oliver's leadership style is deeply rooted in humility, empathy, and a strong work ethic – values instilled in him by his parents. 'It's not about getting anything in return, but rather doing it simply because it's right. My parents taught me that from a young age.' This mindset has shaped him into a servant leader, someone who lifts others up before seeking recognition for himself. 'Leadership is not about the spotlight being on you; it's about holding it to light the way for others.' Though the role of co-mayor carries significant responsibility, Oliver treasures the seemingly small moments that make a lasting impact. One such moment was distributing Easter eggs at Baragwanath Hospital. 'Seeing how something so small could mean so much made me realise we were making a real difference in people's lives,' he reflects warmly. Despite his heavy workload, Oliver willingly sacrifices time and comfort for his responsibilities. He believes: 'Passion is giving up sleep because you know it's worth it,' prioritising the joy of others over his convenience. He acknowledges the challenges of leadership, stating: 'Behind the smiles are teenagers navigating school and stress.' Still, he and his fellow councillors serve joyfully. remaining dedicated to creating meaningful change. Also read: Johannesburg Junior Council learns about child protection and healing therapies St John's College has significantly shaped Oliver's sense of purpose. While known for its academic excellence, its ethos and traditions resonate with him. From chapel reflections that deepen his faith, to cherished rituals, these experiences symbolise discipline, legacy, and belonging. He also credits the school's 'culture of excellence' for nurturing his academic and personal growth. Oliver's journey doesn't stop at Johannesburg's borders. Recently accepted into the prestigious Yale young global scholars programme, he will participate in the solving global challenges session, alongside peers from across the globe. With aspirations to study at Harvard or Yale, his ambitions reach far, but his heart remains rooted in South Africa. 'Our country is full of complexity, but beneath that lies hope and immense potential,' he reflects. 'My ultimate goal is to uplift the communities I come from – and, more broadly, South Africa as a whole.' Oliver aspires to make an impact in business, law, and philanthropy. When asked about his future, he simply says: 'Working hard. Through hard work, everything else follows.' As a young leader, his vision extends beyond school into Johannesburg's future. Oliver embodies true leadership, grounded in service, faith, and purpose, dedicated to shaping a better world. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! Related article: The Johannesburg Student Council continues to inspire Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg learner At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
News18
15-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Who Is Col Sophia Qureshi? A Look At Trailblazing Army Officer's Career As MP Minister Sparks Row
Last Updated: Colonel Sophia Qureshi is known for being the first woman to lead an Indian contingent at a multinational military exercise. She has also served in UN peacekeeping missions. The Supreme Court on Thursday rapped up Madhya Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister Vijay Shah for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Colonel Sophia Qureshi. In a post on X, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said instructions were given to take action against Shah following the orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. A First Information Report (FIR) had already been registered against the minister in this regard. WHO IS COLONEL SOPHIA QURESHI? Hailing from Gujarat, Colonel Sophia Qureshi is one of the two women officers who briefed the media on 'Operation Sindoor' on May 8. She holds a degree in biochemistry from the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, from where she graduated in 1997. Coming from a military family, her grandfather served in the Indian Army. She is married to an officer in the Mechanised Infantry. During the media briefing, Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF) flanked Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on the dais, who delivered the opening statement from the government. The briefing came hours after the Indian armed forces, under 'Operation Sindoor', carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. In March 2020, the Ministry of Defence called her the 'leading lady" as she trained the Army contingent. #ASEAN Plus multin'l field trg ex in 2016. She was only Woman Officers Contingent Commander among all #ASEAN Plus contingents. #WomensDay #IWD2020 #EachforEqual #SheInspiresUs — Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) March 8, 2020 She has served in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operation in Congo in 2006, where she, along with others, was in charge of monitoring ceasefires in those countries and aiding in humanitarian activities. Her job included ensuring peace in the conflict-affected areas. An officer in the critical Corps of Signals, in the past, she had been picked for the role of a military observer in Congo in 2006, besides being part of flood relief operations in the Northeast region. The officer broke the glass ceiling when in 2016, she became the first woman officer to lead its contingent at the multi-national field training exercise, Exercise Force 18, hosted by India for interoperability in sustaining peace among the ASEAN nations. Her selection to lead India's contingent at Exercise Force 18 was endorsed by then Southern Army Commander Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat, who cited her proven leadership, discipline, and field experience as the basis for the appointment. OFTEN PRAISED BY SUPREME COURT While ruling in favour of granting Permanent Commission (PC) to women officers in the Indian Army, the Supreme Court in 2020 had acknowledged the achievements of Colonel Sophia Qureshi. In its February 17, 2020, judgement, the top court said that absolute exclusion of women from all positions, except staff assignments, in the Army was indefensible, and their blanket non-consideration for command appointments without any justification cannot be sustained in law. The top court also referred to the distinctions achieved by women officers, and put out an example of Col Qureshi's achievements. First Published:
Deccan Herald
07-05-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
Who are Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sophia Qureshi, the women who jointly led the media briefing on Operation Sindoor?
Leading lady Lt Col Sophia Qureshi, 1st woman officer to lead an Army training contingent at Force18 - #ASEAN Plus multin'l field trg ex in 2016. She was only Woman Officers Contingent Commander among all #ASEAN Plus contingents. #WomensDay #IWD2020 #EachforEqual #SheInspiresUs
India.com
07-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Who Is Colonel Sophia Qureshi? Decorated Army Officer Who Briefed Media On Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor: The Indian Armed Forces held a press conference, jointly addressed by senior female officers Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, after 'Operation Sindoor' was carried out during the early hours of Wednesday. In the press conference, Colonel Qureshi informed that the terror site Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, was targeted by the Indian Armed Forces and presented videos showing destroyed terror camps, including those from Muridke, where those involved in the 2008 Mumbai Terror attacks. #WATCH | #OperationSindoor | Terror site Markaz Subhan Allah, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, the headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed, targeted by Indian Armed Forces." — ANI (@ANI) May 7, 2025 Colonel Sophia Qureshi's Background Colonel Qureshi is a decorated Indian Army officer and comes from the Indian state of Gujarat, and was a student of biochemistry in college. As per the Economic Times, she comes from a military family, as her grandfather also served in the Indian Army and is married to a Mechanised Infantry officer. Colonel Sophia Qureshi commissioned into the Indian Army through the Officers Training Academy in 1999 and has served in various posts across the country. Colonel Sophia Qureshi's Important Services In Army Colonel Sophia Qureshi was the first woman officer to lead an Army training contingent in a multinational military exercise. She commanded a 40-member Indian Army contingent at 'Exercise Force 18'. She was the only Woman officer contingent Commander among all the ASEAN Plus contingents. The exercise held was in Pune, and 18 ASEAN Plus countries, including China, the USA, Russia, Japan, and South Korea, had participated in it. Leading lady Lt Col Sophia Qureshi, 1st woman officer to lead an Army training contingent at Force18 - #ASEAN Plus multin'l field trg ex in 2016. She was only Woman Officers Contingent Commander among all #ASEAN Plus contingents. #WomensDay #IWD2020 #EachforEqual #SheInspiresUs — Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) March 8, 2020 Furthermore, as per the ET report, she had served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) for six years and was a part of the UN Mission in Congo in 2006. India's Operation Sindoor India woke up to the Indian Army's Operation Sindoor hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) early morning on Wednesday. The Ministry of Defence, in a statement, informed that nine sites were targeted, and the Indian Armed Forces' actions were "focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature." It also clarified that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted. This came after the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed.
Times of Oman
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
"We bow to our Nari Shakti": PM Modi wishes on International Women's Day
New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tribute to 'Nari Shakti,' recognizing the strength and contributions of women on the occasion of International Women's Day. In a post on X, PM Modi announced that his social media platforms would be taken over by women from diverse fields, showcasing their achievements on the occasion. "We bow to our Nari Shakti on #WomensDay! Our Government has always worked for empowering women, reflecting in our schemes and programmes. Today, as promised, my social media properties will be taken over by women who are making a mark in diverse fields!" the Prime Minister said. Earlier on February 23, as a special gesture, PM Modi said that on Women's Day (March 8) he would hand over his social media accounts, including X and Instagram, to a select group of inspiring women for a day during which they could share their work and experiences with their countrymen. In his address in the 119th episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said that these women, who have excelled in various fields, will use the platforms to share their achievements, experiences, and challenges with the nation. "This time, on Women's Day, I am going to take an initiative which will be dedicated to our women's power. On this special occasion, I am going to hand over my social media accounts like X and Instagram, to a few inspiring women in our country for one day. Such women have achieved success in different fields, have innovated, and made a distinct mark for themselves in different fields. On March 8, they will share their work and experiences with the countrymen," he said. "The platform may be mine, but their experiences, challenges and achievements will be discussed there," the Prime Minister added. PM Modi invited women to participate in this special initiative via the NAMO App and urged them to spread their messages globally. "If you want this opportunity to be yours, then through the special forum created on the NAMO App, become a part of this experiment and spread your message to the whole world through my X and Instagram accounts. So on this women's day, let us celebrate and respect the indomitable power of women," he said.
