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Photo by Suzie Brace

Refugee Orientation Centre: Voice Best Speaker Contest

Suzie Brace —

Three students from HGHS all placed in the competition!

The Refugee Orientation Centre (ROC) welcomes and empowers migrants and forced-migrants in Hamilton.The Centre helps them to become socially and economically independent as they develop an understanding of what living in New Zealand is like. The idea behind the pilot project competition was to give a platform to refugee youth to tell their stories. Many of the English Language Learners at HGHS are part of this group.

Three of our students participated in 8 weeks of training sessions to develop their speaking skills. They then presented their speeches alongside other students from different schools in Hamilton. 

HGHS ended up taking all three places on the podium!

1st - Alliance Mwamikazi, Yr 12; 2nd - Angelique Mudasumbwa, Yr 11; 3rd - Emeline Kamukunda, Yr 12.

The students were supported by Kaye Wakerley, one of our English Language Learning Assistants. She found the students speeches incredible to watch as they each shared their remarkable journeys. They have found their voice.