Over this past weekend (15-19 March), 15 St Mary’s students participated in a Model African Union conference hosted by African Leadership Academy. The students called “delegates” during the conference, represented the countries of Ivory Coast, Burundi, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. The delegates were divided into committees and then debated issues and solutions currently experienced by the African continent.

There were a number of special events, mostly in the evenings, designed to recognise and celebrate African heritage, including a cultural night, a gala dinner, and an outing to Constitution Hill.

This conference really pushed our students in terms of their public speaking, debating, and critical thinking skills. They were, quite simply, exceptional. They were brave, passionate and collaborative in a space that was wholly unfamiliar to many of them. All of them deserve credit for simply signing up for this conference, let alone participating with the flair and excellence with which they did. A few pupils were recognised by their committee chairs and the secretariat for outstanding engagement in committee sessions: Well done to all the students – you represented St Mary’s with excellence.

EMILY DINGLE
TEACHER IN CHARGE