Leaders of South Auckland high schools have come together to deliver messages of hope in the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the video clip, head boys and head girls from 10 schools give words of encouragement to fellow students, who have had to adjust to online learning throughout New Zealand’s Level 4 lockdown and Level 3 restrictions.
The idea was started by Head Boy of De La Salle College Toma Laumalili and his leadership team, who reached out to head students of Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate, Aorere College, Māngere College, Tangaroa College, Manurewa High School, Papatoetoe High School, Ōtāhuhu College, James Cook High School, McAuley High School and De La Salle.
“As a group we came to a realisation that our students in South Auckland schools have started to lose hope in the year, but we aimed to change all of that,” says Toma.
He believed the messages would resonate more with students if they came from their peers. “The Pacific Islander to Pacific Islander connection is much stronger than any other.”
Schools are currently partially reopened in Level 3, but many schools only have a handful of students. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed today that early learning services, schools and tertiary facilities are set to reopen fully at Level 2.
But for now, the message from these student leaders is, “Keep calm and carry on, stay home and keep the hope alive! This is still our year so let’s make every second we have left of it count!”
Watch the full video above.
#Covid19nz
