Students unite in post-crisis leadership

Two student-led groups who have emerged from times of crisis are joining forces for the Christchurch and Parkland Youth Leadership Summit at the University of Canterbury this week.

The UC Student Volunteer Army (SVA) will welcome 28 students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida – the site of a shooting that left 17 dead in February this year.

The summit will focus on connecting and enhancing youth leadership movements, with SVA members hosting the Parkland students from 23 to 27 July.

SVA was borne out of the devastating 2010-11 earthquakes, mobilising young people to support disaster relief and recovery. In response to the school attack, the Parkland students created the March for Our Lives movement to address gun violence.

Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida are visiting Christchurch for a leadership summit.

The students have connected with SVA through New Zealand’s Honorary Consul in Florida, Nancy Gilbert.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel will welcome the students to the city.

The Mayor will take part in a special tribute at Halswell Quarry, where the students will plant 17 totara trees in memory of those who have died.

She will also speak about leadership at the summit.

The Mayor is pleased that the students want to connect with the city’s Student Volunteer Army.

“It says a lot about the achievements and commitment of our young people that the Florida students have chosen to visit Christchurch,” she says.

“Borne of tragedy, each student has created a force for good, awakening and empowering other young people. Through this visit, we in Christchurch have become part of their story, and they have become part of ours.

“I am looking forward to attending the youth summit and hearing the students’ viewpoints on the topic of leadership. It is vital that we nurture and sustain that resilience.

“I will encourage them to continue to mobilise other young people on the key issues confronting our societies and the importance of having a strong voice on decisions that affect us all.”

SVA President Josh Blackmore says the summit has been motivated by the students’ similar post-tragedy paths.

“We have been inspired by the journey of the Florida students,” Mr Blackmore says.

“We, too, are an entirely student-driven movement that has arisen from a tragedy.

“We have witnessed the challenges faced by those around us and chosen to act to address these challenges.

“It is these similarities that unite us, and we look forward to sharing stories, lessons and strategies between our two groups to aid each other.

“We also plan to create a document that captures the lessons and successful strategies from both movements.

“We aim to share the combined lessons with the world, to support and encourage other youth and student movements to drive the change they wish to see.”