Liat was the winner of the Gandel Young Leader Award 2014 (NSW). After completing the Stand Up ABC program, Liat was inspired to help asylum seekers. She initiated contact via letter writing with a young girl who was being detained on Manus Island. Through building a pen-pal relationship, she learnt about the conditions her friend was living in on Manus Island, with out much to play with and no toys. Following this, Liat arranged a toy drive at her school, Mt Sinai. Liat held a fundraising campaign in order to post the hundreds of toys to Manus Island. We are very proud of Liat and her incredible effort and initiative!

Abby completed the Stand Up ABC course in 2014 and was awarded the Gandel Young Leader Award 2014 (Vic). For her action project she started a little social enterprise called Abbacookie. Each month she bakes cookies, sells them, and donates 25% to support people with disabilities. She and her family were inspired by the program and decided to organise a special, cross-cultural celebration for her Bat Mitzvah. She compiled a cook book with Jewish and Sudanese recipes, and then had a fantastic challah baking party at the Stand Up Sudanese Homework club. Abby is a true mensch and her dedication to Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) is admirable and inspirational.

Many young people think, I don’t need to change the world. How am I going to change it if I’m only 12 years old? Someone else can change the world. If everyone thinks like that, and no one stands up to make a difference, the world will never change.

Avital was the winner of the Gandel Young Leader Award in 2015. She held a violin and opera concert to raise more than $1600 for the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation. She also participated in an Anzac Day sleep-out and dawn service, held a challah bake for important women in her life, and prepared meals for families in need at Our Big Kitchen. Mazel tov Avital, we are so proud of your amazing work!

Anna Berkowitz was awarded the Gandel Young Leader Award 2016 (Vic). She used her artistic skills to host an art exhibition at home with the help of family and friends and raised funds in support of Stand Up and the Lort Smith Animal Hospital. Great initative Anna!

Keira Davis won the Gandel Young Leader Award 2016 (Vic). Keira took action by hosting a book stall at her school during Book Week. She raised money to support Indigenous Australians through the Australian Literacy & Numeracy Foundation. Mazel tov Keira!

Jonathan Francis was the winner of the 2016 Gandel Young Leader Award (NSW). For his Stand Up ABC inspired action project, Jonathan shared his grandfather's story of survival with his classmates at the Lane Cove Public School, to encourage broader awareness about the impact of the Holocaust.

This year I took part in Stand Up ABC and I learned that you can’t wait for things to occur. You have to do them yourself. I wanted my classmates to realise that the Holocaust isn’t just horrible pictures you see at the movies or on the Internet. It happened to real people and affected some of the people they know.

Mazel Tov to Ariella Cappe, one of our outstanding Stand Up ABC graduates, who received the Gandel Young Leader Award 2017 (NSW). Ariella's creative action project - art school holiday program for kids - raised over $1600 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Well done Ariella!

Ruby won the Gandel Young Leader Award 2018 (NSW). She has a strong belief in equal access to education, which was the motivation behind her project to collect study essentials for the benefit of school students in need as part of her Bat Mitzvah. After completing Stand Up ABC, Ruby was inspired to ask fellow Bellevue Hill Public School students to donate educational stationery goods. She then dedicated her holiday break towards packaging them up for distribution via the Aboriginal Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF).

Stand Up ABC taught me that becoming Bat Mitzvah isn’t only about becoming an adult, but is also about finding out what our responsibilities are in the real world and how we can create positive change.

Giselle Davey was the winner of the 2018 Gandel Young Leader Award (Vic). She ultilised her love for swimming to support a cause close to her and her family’s hearts. After completing Stand Up ABC, as part of the UJEB Bat Mitzvah program, Giselle decided to raise funds in support of the Ardoch Youth Foundation. Giselle raised over $1300 by challenging herself to swim as many laps as physically possible over the course of one hour, and managed to cover an amazing 4km through her efforts.

I graduated out of Stand Up ABC wanting to make a change. Making a change in the world is possible even if you are not in a position of power. Doing something small for a few people is still a significant change. Swimming is something that I enjoy, and wanted to combine my passion with helping others.

Ellie was the winner of the 2019 Gandel Young Leader Award (Vic). She donated her hair to Hair with Heart, who make wigs for those who have lost their hair due to medical conditions. Mazel tov Ellie!