Tenterfield High School yet again has a student participating in Youth Parliament, and this year’s representative is Ruth Uwikindu.
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Ruth provided an update on the process to a gathering of very proud family and friends as part of the Refugee Week celebrations at Mingoola on Tuesday, June 19.
She said she got involved in the program not only to put herself outside her comfort zone but to see societal change.
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She has already travelled with her mother to Sydney to attend the first phase of the program, including training in parliamentary etiquette and how to debate appropriately and respectfully. (There was some comment from the audience that perhaps our paid parliamentarians could undergo the same training.)
This year’s intake had the choice of joining education, mental health, women’s affairs and other committees, with Ruth opting for women’s affairs.
“When I left the camp I was excited because we were going to hopefully see some changes in our society, and it would be because of us,” she said.
Since the camp she and her fellow committee members have been working on a bill to reduce domestic violence, to be presented when they return to Sydney in July.
She said she has already made lifelong friends through the program, who share her passion for change.
“It elates me to be surrounded by so many other passionate youth that will fight for what they think is right.
“I believe, I know that in order for our society to change for the better, younger voices need to be heard.”