Here is a teenager worth celebrating.

Today’s youth get a fair bashing from the media these days.

If they aren’t tweerking, or roof-topping or posting topless selfies online we don’t really hear about them do we?

Well here is something we should hear about.

At the age of fifteen, Mariah Kennedy was lying in her bed at boarding school wondering how to make a difference in the world.

Yes, you read that right.

She was WONDERING HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

And you know what – she did.

As simple as that.

And last night at an awards ceremony in Sydney she was celebrated for that – winning the Young People’s Human Rights Medal for 2013.

Mariah Kennedy spoke of that night in her bed at Victoria’s Geelong Grammer School when she looked around the room at all her friends and she decided to create a book about issues that mattered to young people.

So she approached some of Australia’s best loved children’s authors and illustrators for contributions to the book.

And the response was overwhelming.

It addresses social justice issues such as child labour, refugee rights and global poverty. The book Reaching Out, Messages of Hope was published with all proceeds going to UNICEF.

She’s now an Young Ambassador for UNICEF.

Last night at the awards she was humble and glowing. Saying “I’m not really sure how to respond, it’s an incredible honour to present at this night amongst such inspiring company,”.

She has previously spoken about her book here:

Alongside Mariah last night was Sister Clare Condon, the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict who was presented with the 2013 Human Rights Medal by last year’s winner, Olympian Ian Thorpe.

Sister Clare was described as a “woman of integrity, compassion and great fortitude” by Human Rights Awards Commission boss Professor Gillian Triggs

In awarding her the medal last night Professor Triggs said “Sister Clare is never afraid to stand up for what she believes in, nor is she afraid to take her message directly to Government, relentlessly lobbying politicians to help those in need.”

Her work in providing emergency housing for women and children experiencing domestic violence was praised.

Under her leadership the Good Samaritan Inn was established in Melbourne, which offers crisis accommodation to women and their children who are escaping family violence or find themselves homeless. Over 5000 women and children have made this their short-term home under times of emergency.

Congratulations to both Sister Clare and Mariah.