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    • Amnesty International's Write for Rights Campaign

    Wednesday, December 10th, was Human Rights Day, and to mark this, students from Years 7–13 added their voices to millions of people worldwide by taking part in Amnesty International's Write for Rights Campaign. 

    Amnesty International is a global movement which is independent of any government or political party, and each year, they identify people from around the world whose human rights have been violated, and ask their supporters to write two types of letters: messages of solidarity and support to those who have been affected, and appeal letters to governments. 

    This year, our Sixth Form volunteers chose three campaigns for us to support as a school:

    • Three-year-old Unecebo Mboteni died after falling into a pit toilet at his pre-school in South Africa. Amnesty are demanding that his death is investigated properly and that those responsible are held to account.
    • Five environmental activists of Mother Nature Cambodia who have been jailed for defending Cambodia's environment
    • Guerreras por la Amazonía, a group of activists fighting to protect their local communities from gas flares and toxic emissions 

    Students heard about these campaigns in tutor time and came to our writing stations in the Library and Sixth Form Common Room to write letters and cards. So far, we have collected over 120 messages from students in all year groups.  Amnesty provide template letters which supporters can copy, but many students chose to write their own heartfelt messages expressing solidarity and calling for change. 

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    Unecebo's story resonated with many students following a powerful series of assemblies by Mrs Mohamed to mark World Toilet Day and the effects of inadequate sanitation for millions of people around the globe, while Mother Nature Cambodia and Guerreras por la Amazonia are both campaign groups fighting for environmental causes about which many of our students also care deeply. As part of our Kendrick Pledge, students and staff promise to stand against injustice, and it was heartening to see so many students using their voices to advocate for others around the world who do not enjoy the same human rights that most of us do.

    Many thanks to all who took part, and especially to our Sixth Formers who coordinated this event: Charlotte, Afra, Koyenum, Maria, Isabelle, Akeesha, Elizabeth and Moya.

    Mr Dilley - Subject Leader of English