Farhan Hashmi
Politcal Worker (100+ posts)
Yousaf is the son of immigrants who came to Britain in the 1960s: his mother came from Kenya and his father from Pakistan. Yousaf was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, an independent school in Glasgow.[SUP][1][/SUP] He studied Politics at the University of Glasgow, graduating with a MA in 2007.[SUP][
[/SUP]
From an early age, Yousaf was involved in community work, ranging from youth organisations to charity fundraising.[SUP][3][/SUP] He was the volunteer media spokesperson for the charity Islamic Relief,[SUP][3][/SUP] worked for community radio for 12 years and on a project which provided food packages to the homeless and asylum seekers in Glasgow.
Yousaf worked as a Parliamentary assistant for Bashir Ahmad, from Ahmad's election as Scotland's first Muslim MSP in 2007 until Ahmad's death two years later.[SUP][4][/SUP] Ahmad was a personal influence. Yousaf then worked as Parliamentary assistant for a few other MSPs including Anne McLaughlin, Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond who was then the First Minister.[SUP][5][/SUP][SUP][6][/SUP] In 2008, while working as an aide, Yousaf took part in the IVLP programme- an exchange that is run by the US State Department.[SUP][7][/SUP] He was awarded the Future Force of Politics at the Young Scottish Minority Ethnic Awards in 2009, which was presented to him in Glasgow City Chambers.[SUP][8][/SUP]
