The future of our democracy is in good hands
We are thrilled to announce that our co-curricular Strengthening Democracy Project team has been awarded first place in Strengthening Democracy 2024, a project for college leaders facilitated by Peter Cullen, Donna Dentice, and Ian McKinnon, and supported by the Rotary Club of Wellington. The victorious team, comprised of students Charlotte Cinque, Lillian Hillyer Magoffin, Tara Bayly, Telesia Tanoa'i, and Tiantian Ren, represented Marsden with distinction, delivering a compelling written report and a thought-provoking video that communicated their findings.
The team was notably awarded their prize by Marsden Old Girl and New Zealand's Minister of Finance, Hon Nicola Willis, at a Cullen Breakfast in the last week of Term 2. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students and their exceptional preparation under the guidance of Marsden's Head of Humanities, Julia Finny.
The project provided a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage deeply with critical questions about democracy.
The Strengthening Democracy Project challenged students to work in groups to answer the following questions:
- What is democracy?
- What are the current threats to our democracy?
- What possible solutions are there to these problems?
- How might the suggested solution strengthen our democracy?
Participants were required to present their ideas in a video no longer than six minutes, accompanied by a written document of no more than two pages. This year, the project saw participation from 63 students across 23 high schools, with five workshops held over five months to support the teams in developing their projects.
Our team’s project stood out for its insightful analysis and innovative solutions to current threats to democracy. Their video and report effectively communicated complex ideas in an accessible and engaging manner, showcasing their deep understanding of democratic principles and their commitment to fostering a stronger, more resilient democracy.
Congratulations to Charlotte, Lillian, Tara, Telesia, and Tiantian for their remarkable achievement, and to Julia Finny for her outstanding mentorship.
