Bright future for Mia after winning contest
SHE is more than 6500 miles from home and has only been living in Glasgow for two years. However, schoolgirl Mia Saiful has already left a lasting impression on the city after being crowned the winner of a design competition.
The Smithycroft Secondary youngster, who is originally from Malaysia, fought off more than 200 rival pupils to win Glasgow City Council’s bid to find a new badge for its Towards Better Futures campaign.
Her winning image will now be used across the city to promote the local authority’s strategy to ensure a better future for all young people.
Her proud parents are delighted to see how welcome the family has been made in the city.
Mum Melina Fauzi, 36, said: “I am so proud and we are just so very happy for her. This is the biggest award she has been given since we moved.
“Mia has always loved drawing whenever she is at home and you will always find her in her room doing that or sketches.
“You can see how passionate she is about this and that always makes it so easy for her to do. I remember when [ Smithycroft headteacher] Patrick Oberg called me to tell me, Mia was just gobsmacked.
“She had entered this competition and out of 200 kids had won.
“It actually was quite a month for her as she just turned 12 and won this and then an award by the Malaysian community in Glasgow.
“She was so excited by it all and couldn’t quite believe it!”
The family moved to the city in December 2018 when dad Saiful Ramli, 41, began a PHD at Strathclyde University.
Mia originally attended Carntyne Primary before starting at the East End secondary school earlier this year.
Ms Fauzi continued. “She was still at Carntyne Primary when she entered the competition and she was just so excited about the chance to draw.
“I am just so proud. She would just want to come home and work on her design. It was something that really caught her attention.
“She will create little comic books on her own and has always had that skill.
“It really means a lot to her to be recognised in the city when she is so new here.”
Mia, who lives in Dennistoun, was given a voucher by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce for winning the competition.
“She enjoys the parks and just really loves her school,” her mum said when asked what Mia likes about her new home.
“She has only out at secondary loves it!”
Mr Oberg said: “We are so proud of her but the credit has to go to her teachers at Carnytne Primary.” recently started school but absolutely