Hero photograph
 

Students speak to Zonta

Kerri Sullivan —

During the Term Two holidays, two of our students, Shanae Marsters and Te Ara Mercep took on the opportunity to speak to the North Canterbury branch of Zonta, a long-standing organisation for the empowerment of women.

Shanae, who aspires to study Criminal Law, and Te Ara, who aspires to study Radiology, spoke to a group of twenty women during a meeting at the Chateau on the Park, in Christchurch.

Both students currently study at Karanga Mai, our Teen-Parent Unit. They each spoke of their journeys to Karanga Mai; Te Ara travelling from the far North, away from the majority of her family network, in order to further her education.

Shanae spoke passionately about what education meant, in terms of role-modelling her motivation and values toward having goals for her daughter, while Te Ara discussed the importance of living in a society where women are encouraged to pursue their dreams. Both students concluded that the strength to build a positive future comes from having a willingness to learn.

We are incredibly proud, not just of the speeches delivered to Zonta, but of the unfailing determination shown by Shanae and Te Ara.