Our Turn: S3 pupils take part in Leadership Programme
Six S3 pupils - Rebecca Agliolo, Haris Haseeb, Rebekah Lindsay, Lena McCrae, Andrew Stewart and Rawand Husami - took part in the 'Your Turn' Programme organised by Common Purpose last session. Having participated in sessions throughout the year with other schools, they met for the final time at Kelvingrove Art Gallery in May. Rebecca Agliolo [S3] reports on a memorable experience.
The first activity we participated in was a team building exercise, where we played games until around 10:30. After a short break, we were split into two groups. We all happened to be involved a group split into teams to debate one of the four following issues:
- Child Rights UN Campaign
- Campaign to increase leisure facilities (eg football pitches)
- Knife Crime preventation
- Helping the unfortunate
We had to prepare a speech, and participate in a debate to decide which one of the teams should get more local funding for their particular cause. There was no winner, as we decided that all were equally important.
Following the debate, we were further split up into three groups to listen to a lecture about different aspects of living in a community. I listened to a very interesting talk by the local police, centred around gang violence.
After lunch, we had to deliver our presentations. Each school involved had prepared their own poster and presentation about their ideas to help the community, and what their school were involved in. There was a wide range of ideas, including mixing public and private schools (not very well received!), and helping out at volunteer centres. We presented our ideas to professional business and community figures, who took a great interest.
The six of us were selected to participate after we submitted written applications about our perceptions of the community in which we live and the role we could play in improving it.
Common Purpose is an independent not-for-profit organisation that runs leadership development courses which mix people from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.
A leadership course for young people, Your Turn challenges young people to think in new ways about the place where they live and the world around them, to examine how decisions are made and see how they can make change happen. Your Turners examine topical current affairs, community issues and they go into professional environments; to chair meetings with their local MPs; to provide consultation advice to businesses and to ask hard hitting questions of community leaders.