MOUNT Gambier High School Year 12 student Sahra Rowhani-Farid has returned inspired to drive reconciliation with Aboriginal communities after a two-week leadership tour abroad.
Coordinated by United Nations Youth Australia – one of the world’s largest youth-led organisations – the Aotearoa Leadership Tour in New Zealand focused on educating and empowering young Australians to voice their opinions and make positive change on local, national and global levels.
The tour was a unique opportunity for 16 high school students in Year 10 to 12 to travel to New Zealand and engage with issues that fundamentally shape the relationship between Indigenous people and majority white states.
Sahra said she felt honoured to have been chosen for such an “eye-opening” experience.
“To explore these issues, we participated in workshops, attended consultations with community leaders, members of government and advocacy groups and did a lot of personal study and reflection,” Sahra said.
“We learnt about topics ranging from reconciliation, all the way to exploitation and commercialisation of culture.
“The trip provided me with the skills, knowledge and passion to work as an ally with first nation people.”
