Inspiring event for students
Three New Plymouth students have been awarded scholarships to attend what has been called New Zealand’s most inspiring event.
Festival for the Future showcases youth-led innovation and gives young New Zealanders a platform to develop skills and engage in critical conversations about the future. Inspiring speakers from around the world will also attend.
Young people from throughout New Zealand are offered scholarships to attend the threeday event, which covers entry fee, accommodation and transport costs.
Baylee O’Donnell-Martin, Jahla Lawrence and Brianna Burns will be joining about 50 other recipients.
Brianna Burns is a year 12 student with a passion for entrepreneurial insight. She’s been involved with Red Cross, the 2016 Global Citizenship Conference and participated in the Young Enterprise Scheme.
She hopes to launch a new social group within her school to help students improve on their participation with outside events and ultimately open doors for them.
‘‘This will ultimately benefit my community as I can pass on my knowledge on to others and help engage individuals through social action.’’ She also wants to expand her contacts and friendships within the wider community of change makers in New Zealand.
O’Donnell-Martin wants to help change the world in a positive way. ’’I am usually a very positive person but I struggle with understanding why the world has the problems it does and I really want a productive community that can work towards innovative solutions.’’
Tran-Lawrence is taking a gap year after graduating from Victoria University and hopes to work for a not-for-profit organisation in Germany.
‘‘I would love to create a programme that focuses on the young people, specifically men and boys, of both my own and the wider New Zealand community, and work towards education that would alter any attitudes towards woman and violence that might lead to sexual violence.’’
The 2016 Festival for the Future takes place on 23–25 September at Auckland’s Aotea Centre. More information and tickets are available from www.festivalforthefuture.org.nz.