Year 10 students Rob and Sacha discuss the issues of global human rights with their teacher, Will Hone.By Cassie Maher
BEACONHILLS College students have been sending hundreds of letters to the Federal Government and other authorities, voicing their concerns about global human rights.
Between 10 and 20 students from year seven to 12 attend weekly meetings where they discuss issues passed onto them by program supporter Amnesty International.
“The sessions help students to develop their own opinions regarding human rights issues, through facts we receive from Amnesty International and the Federal Government,” teacher Will Hone said.
“We give them a range of information from different sources so that what they write is well researched.”
Rather than developing one letter as a group, students write one letter each and send it to the same person to make a “bigger impact”.
“They develop an active voice through writing letters they know will physically arrive on the Prime Minister’s desk,” Mr Hone said.
Asked if they had received any responses, year 10 student Rob said, “We don’t expect a reply, we just want to get the message out there.”
Participation in the group is voluntary and fellow year 10 student Sacha is happy to give up her time to help create awareness. “The group gives you a broader political view,” said Sacha.
“We are too young to vote, so writing the letters makes you feel as though you’re making a difference.”
Students were given a real life example of the people they are helping to support when they had a visit from refugee Aref Shakeri, who recently spent time in the Baxter Detention centre.
“It really made our jaws drop to hear of his experience,” Sacha said.
With larger numbers of year seven and eight students joining, Mr Hone expects the group will remain active for many years to come.
