At the end of August, our Westlake Peace Week leaders attended the Peace Foundation symposium held in Ellerslie. We were immersed in a truly enjoyable and inspiring day, where we had the opportunity to collaborate with students from a variety of schools across Auckland, and from as far afield as Tauranga!
We spent the day sharing ideas and learning about the unique activities each school organised to create more peace within their own school and community. It was wonderful to see the range of ways that students are making a positive impact in their communities and how we can all work together to build a more peaceful world. The symposium experience was a powerful reminder that even small actions can contribute to a larger movement of positive change. The Peace Week leaders at Westlake also shared the wonderful activities our students participated in during Peace Week. Other schools were inspired by our beautiful peace rocks and the creative outfits our students made out of newspaper during the Project Runway activity.
Adding to the experience, the symposium was filled with engaging activities and inspiring guest speakers. We had the privilege of hearing from two incredible people: the inspirational politician, Lawrence Xu-Nan, from the Green Party and a speaker named Mr. Awesome, who truly lived up to his name. Xu-Nan shared insights on how policy and community action can promote peace, while Mr. Awesome delivered his powerful message, highlighting that one has to dream big to achieve great things.
One of the day’s most memorable moments was when we all played African Djembe drums and a variety of percussion instruments together. The collective rhythm and music created a sense of unity and peace, beautifully illustrating how we can find harmony and connection within our community. Thank you to Ms. Wilson for driving students across the bridge and making the day happen.
By Sylvie Waddingham 11 OLN