The Uvalde Foundation for Kids—also known as the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, has named Maya Gebala as the first international recipient of its Youth Heroism Award.
Gebala was critically injured during the February 10 shooting.
She was shot three times and later transported by air to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where she underwent multiple surgeries and began a long recovery.
It was only ten days ago that father David Gebala announced that she had been released from the hospital after 262 days (see story, page 7).
The discharge marks a major milestone for her and her family as her recovery continues.
The Uvalde Foundation said Maya is being recognized for the determination she has shown in the months that followed the attack.
The Youth Heroism Award recognizes young people who demonstrate exceptional courage, leadership, compassion, or selfless action when others need help.
The honor also makes Maya the Foundation’s first international recipient. That distinction places her story beyond a local or national response. It connects a student in Tumbler Ridge with a youth-focused organization known for recognizing young people affected by violence and crisis.
Daniel Chapin, Founder and President of the Foundation, said Maya’s recognition reflects a broader view of what heroism can look like, especially in young people.
The Uvalde Foundation is a US-based non-profit dedicated to helping families and communities affected by school violence.
They admit that public recognition of these victims can be difficult to frame. “Awards cannot undo harm. They cannot shorten recovery or erase trauma. At their best, they name what happened with care and make clear that courage shown by young people deserves to be seen.”
In Gebala’s case, the Foundation is recognizing both the moment of crisis and the months of strength that came after it.
Her discharge is a milestone, they say in a release, not a finish line. “Recovery after serious injury can continue long after a child leaves the hospital. The Foundation acknowledged that reality by wishing Maya and her family continued strength as she moves into the next stage.
“A hospital discharge after a long stay often brings mixed feelings. There is relief, gratitude, and hope. There can also be fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty. Families may move from constant hospital care to a new routine shaped by follow-up appointments, rehabilitation, school decisions, and the need for privacy.”
By naming Gebala as the first international recipient, the foundation is also showing that youth heroism does not stop at borders. “The circumstances of young people in crisis may differ from one country to another, but acts of care and courage can be recognized across communities.”
The award recognizes the milestone without suggesting that recovery is complete. That distinction is important, says the foundation. “Public attention often moves quickly from one story to the next, but recovery from violence does not follow a public timeline.”
The Uvalde Foundation For Kids has roots in responding to the needs of children and communities affected by violence. “Recognizing a student in Canada expands the award’s reach and may shape how the Foundation identifies youth courage in the future,” they say.
They also acknowledge that an award like this can place pressure on a child to be a symbol. But it’s not supposed to be that, but an acknowledgment of what she has endured.
“For communities watching from afar, the award also offers a reminder to speak carefully about young survivors. Their stories can inspire people, but they are not public property. Recognition should not demand constant visibility. It should leave space for rest, healing, and family life.
“The word ‘hero’ can carry a heavy burden, especially when used for a child who has survived violence. The Foundation’s quote directly addresses that tension by stating that heroism is not defined by age and is not measured by someone walking away unharmed.
That framing matters in Maya’s case. She did not emerge from the February 10 shooting untouched. She was critically injured and spent 262 days in hospital care. The award recognizes courage amid harm, not a simple story of triumph. This is why the announcement is best understood as recognition, not closure.”
The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation’s has a National Emergency Relief Fund, which provides emergency financial assistance to eligible youth victims of gun violence and their families across the United States.
“The fund is one part of the Foundation’s broader response to violence and community crises. Depending on the circumstances and resources available, the Foundation may also provide or coordinate crisis intervention, peer counseling, professional counseling resources, practical community assistance, referrals, school and student support, and ongoing youth advocacy and violence-prevention efforts.”
However, the organization provides much more than just financial relief. They can also help with: crisis intervention and response; peer counseling and emotional support; professional counseling resources; on-the-ground community assistance; resource coordination and referrals; school and student support and youth advocacy and violence prevention.
Note: part of the reason for the award was due to reports that still circulate on social media that she was shot trying to block the library door. This is not, as we have learned, the case, so I’ve pulled references to that from this article, focusing instead on the long and sometimes painful road she has followed in recovery.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
