
At
just
17
years
old,
Abdullah
Usufzai,
a
senior
at
Battlefield
High
School,
is
pursuing
a
selfless
ambition:
serving
the
community
at
large.
In
2018,
he
founded
the
International
Muslim
Public
Action
Team
(IMPACT),
an
organization
to
bring
his
service
project
ideas
to
life.
The
organization's
objectives
include,
"educating
the
public
accurately
on
Islam
to
combat
stereotypes
and
misinformation,
providing
resources
to
aid
vulnerable
communities
across
the
globe,
and
strengthening
the
dialogue
between
interfaith
communities."
When
asked
what
inspired
him
to
create
IMPACT,
Usufzai
shared,
"I
had
a
vision
for
an
inclusive
approach
to
unify
diverse
groups
by
sharing
information
and
engaging
in
constructive
and
civil
dialogue.
I
felt
that
many
people
in
our
world
have
an
'I'm
right,
you're
wrong,
and
you
can't
change
my
mind'
mindset.
My
goal
with
IMPACT
was
to
see
through
these
murky
waters
and
unify
diverse
groups
[to
work]
towards
common
causes
we
care
for.
As
a
global
citizen,
I
feel
a
responsibility
and
a
duty
to
stand
up
for
the
voiceless
and
help
those
groups
that
need
the
most
support."
The
IMPACT
team
members
offer
free
tutoring
sessions
in
core
subjects
for
students
in
grades
K-5
on
a
weekly
basis.
As
part
of
IMPACT's
international
aid
efforts,
Usufzai
has
helped
local
food
pantries
in
Istanbul,
Turkey,
as
well
as
providing
food
and
funds
from
charitable
donations
collected
in
the
U.S.
to
distribute
to
families
in
need
in
Karachi,
Pakistan.
Usufzai
also
launched
a
podcast
in
2020
that
has
featured
a
wide
variety
of
guest
speakers,
which
include
religious
leaders,
fellow
podcasters,
and
Superintendent
of
Schools,
Dr.
LaTanya
McDade.
"Podcasts
allow
for
a
dive
deep
into
an
issue
with
the
guest,
and
podcasts
have
a
worldwide
reach
via
the
internet.
Hearing
someone's
voice
is
humanizing
and
emboldening,
and
podcasts
offer
exactly
the
type
of
civil
and
constructive
dialogue
that
IMPACT
looks
to
promote.
My
podcasts
have
a
focus
on
youth
empowerment
and
discuss
the
ideals
that
would
be
most
valuable
in
our
21st
century
world,"
said
Usufzai.
Usufzai
is
involved
in
charitable
organizations
both
inside
and
outside
of
school.
One
of
the
Battlefield
High
clubs
he
is
involved
with
is
the
Rotary
Interact
Club.
The
club
has
completed
several
service
projects
to
date
under
his
leadership
as
president
including,
a
trash
clean-up
event
at
Greenbriar
Park
in
Fairfax,
and
a
leaf
clean-up
event
in
Haymarket.
Usufzai
encourages
his
fellow
students
to
find
out
what
clubs
are
available
at
their
school
to
get
involved.
"I
would
encourage
them
to
use
[school]
clubs
as
platforms,
for
the
betterment
of
the
world
around
them
and
for
the
betterment
of
themselves.
We
are
incredibly
fortunate
to
have
an
incredible
[number
of]
clubs,
activities,
sports,
and
programs
in
PWCS.
These
extracurricular
activities
offer
a
means
for
personal
growth
and
academic
growth.
Whether
it
be
through
conducting
a
service
project
in
the
Rotary
Interact
Club
or
engaging
in
a
spirited
and
multifarious
debate
on
the
Debate
team,
these
clubs
offer
an
avenue
for
progress
and
a
world
of
opportunity,"
he
shared.
Usufzai
is
also
a
member
of
the
Prince
William
County
Human
Rights
Student
Leadership
Council,
captain
for
the
Debate
Team,
and
vice
president
of
the
Muslim-Student
Association.