Working with students from three other independent schools, Annabelle (Year 10) recently participated in the Youth Governor’s Leadership Foundation Program, developing key organisation, communication and collaboration skills to extend her leadership capacity while driving positive change.

Through the program, participants learnt more about who they are as leaders, when to lead and when to follow, how to run meetings, how to be more productive and how to take action, all while working on a project aligned to one of the United Nations’ Global Development Goals. Annabelle worked in an action group of four to learn about gender equality. Their action involved helping younger peers truly understand the importance of gender equality, through in-person interactive education sessions that Annabelle and the other members of her group designed and ran in a number of Primary Schools.

When asked about the key learnings following her involvement in and graduation from the program, Annabelle said appreciating diversity in collaboration and the importance of communication were top takeaways.

“I have learnt to look at different perspectives ... considering all angles. … another key takeaway would be communication. Communication is all about staying in contact ... it isn’t just about talking at someone, it’s talking with them. Sometimes the best way to communicate is to listen, letting someone else take control so that you can hear what they have to say. ‘Always keep on communicating so that you can keep on growing.’”