Nesrine Majzoub gives on a local, and international, level

Rodriguez High School senior Nesrine Majzoub, 17, has been given the Soroptimist's Violet Richardson Award. (Brad Zweerink/Daily Republic)

FAIRFIELD — One night at Mission Solano’s nomadic shelter opened Nesrine Majzoub’s eyes to the plight of the local homeless.

“I really got a feel for what it’s like to be homeless,” she said.

Now, the first-place winner of the Violet Richardson Award reaches out locally and internationally to those who don’t have a place to call home.

The Rodriguez High School senior will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and study sociology. She dreams of becoming a family counselor.

“God has really put this on my heart,” Majzoub said.

Rather than look down at the homeless, Majzoub advocates that people remember, “Deep down we’re all broken.”

A champion for the less fortunate, Majzoub has also taken two mission trips to Mexico and will spend her spring break in Ecuador, on a mission trip. She leaves the day after the Soroptimist International of Central Solano County luncheon Tuesday, where she will be honored.

Those jaunts have taught her to appreciate what she has.

“We have so many things at our fingertips we take for granted. It kills me knowing I have so much stuff and they have nothing,” she said.

It’s all about putting her faith into action, said Majzoub, who serves as the president of the Christian Club at her school.

She is also the photo editor of the yearbook and is involved in student leadership.

Majzoub also enjoys music and says it will always be a part of her life.

“I hope by the time I’m old and gray I’ll be able to play every instrument,” she said.

While she didn’t think she would win the award, Majzoub is also the Violet Richardson Award winner for regional Soroptimist and will be honored at the district conference May 5.

The lifelong Fairfield resident has two older siblings and is an active member of Parkway Community Church in Fairfield.

“I want to get plugged in with a church in San Luis Obispo,” she said.

She also played soccer her freshman and sophomore year.

Majzoub also receives a cash award and will donate half of it to Mission Solano, she said.

Reach Amy Maginnis-Honey at 427-6957 or amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amaginnisdr.

Amy Maginnis-Honey

Amy Maginnis-Honey joined the staff of the Daily Republic in 1980. She’ll tell you she was only 3 at the time. Over the past three decades she’s done a variety of jobs in the newsroom. Today, she covers arts and entertainment and writes for the Living and news pages.

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