Teen’s warnings win speech prize
A teen’s warnings and hopes for the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki have won her a national speech competition.
Public speaking and politics might make some run a mile, but Tararua teen Lauren Carr can’t get enough of it.
Her thorough research and presentation netted her the top place in the national Lions Young Speechmaker competition, held in August.
The Dannevirke High School head girl said she wanted to speak out about things she was passionate and ‘‘infuriated’’ about, so she spent hours researching government policy, legislation and the history of the government body tasked to protect children.
‘‘In my speech I said I hope the new Child Youth and Family is not the truest April Fool’s Day joke ... because our track record’s not the best.’’
Lauren said the new ministry’s plan to talk with children, rather than about them, and to raise the age of state care from 17 to 18 and then later to 21 meant it could allow for genuine change.
Funding and staffing levels would also play a crucial role in whether it could succeed, she said.
Though policy surrounding the new ministry was ‘‘a beast’’ to tap into in order to be informed, the judges told Lauren she made it easy to understand.
Lauren started entering speech competitions when she was eight.
‘‘When I was quite young we went to London. I saw the London dungeons and the Great Tower, so that’s what I used to do my speeches on.’’
Now she picks topics related to social issues, and has talked about child abuse, the Health and Safety Act and euthanasia.
‘‘I’ve followed politics since I was about year 10...
‘‘I watched the news a lot when I was a lot younger, and got really into it.
‘‘It gives you a passion, coming from somewhere like Dannevirke and going and competing against the big private schools.
‘‘[This] school is awesome, but you see a lot more and it makes you want to have your voice heard. It gives me that sort of drive.’’
Having a forum and being encouraged to speak her mind as a young person was empowering, she said.
‘‘Learning how to be a good communicator is probably one of the most important skills.
‘‘It allows you to be empathetic and talk to everyone.
‘‘You could have 20,000 good ideas, but without communication you wouldn’t know how to tell them to everyone.’’