Raheel Anwer joined the Mikva Challenge Club at Amundsen High School in Chicago without knowing that it would take him to New Hampshire, standing next to Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

The club Raheel joined is part of a project that helps teachers start clubs to give students a civics education. It began in 1997 as a tribute to Abner Mikva, a former congressman and judge and now senior director and visiting professor at the Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Chicago. More than 2,000 students are involved in the challenge this year.

Raheel was one of five students from his club (and among 60 from the Chicago area) selected to go on an all-expense-paid campaign trip to New Hampshire. Among his jobs were holding signs, canvassing neighborhoods, knocking on doors and making phone calls.

What got you involved in politics?

It’s just thanks to the Mikva program, you know. It’s really gotten me involved in the political process. If it wasn’t for Mikva, I don’t think I would’ve ever gotten involved as much as I am right now. So I’m really glad and it’s helping me out a lot.

What was best response you got while you were campaigning?

While I was working in New Hampshire at the Hillary campaign office, this lady came up and she said, “I’m really glad that I see young people like you guys involved in this type of program, you know. It shows us that you guys really, really care.”

If you could talk with the candidates about any issue, what would it be?

It would be (about) college grants because I’m a sophomore, and in the future I am definitely looking forward to going to college, you know, and college tuition is increasing rapidly every year.

Who do you think will win the election?

That is a hard question, but I think that Hillary has really good chances of winning because of the support from Bill Clinton, you know. I can see that a lot of people like Bill, so they’re hoping the same with Hillary.

Copyright 2008 Y-Press