Karamu High School wins regional Race Unity Speech Awards third year in a row
For the third year in a row, Karamu High School has won the Hawke’s Bay heat of the 2021 Race Unity Speech Awards, on the back of a stirring speech by year 11 student Lena Ormsby.
This year’s theme was Kia Kotahi te hoe – Paddle as one - which gave contestants the opportunity to discuss their thoughts on race relations within Aotearoa.
The 15-year-old student spoke at Clive Community Hall last month about her personal experience of being discriminated against and urged people to step outside of the box and embrace diversity.
She will now join 20 students from around the country at the national semi-finals, to be held in Auckland on today. From there, six successful students will then proceed to the national final two days later.
Lena said she was grateful for the opportunity and surprised to win, having never entered before.
“I’ve always been someone who goes for every opportunity, but I thought it was especially important to address and raise awareness amongst other people of the issues that we as youth experience today in schools, or that we just see first-hand in public.
“I've had a few experiences with friends and family, I've learned new things and I'd like to share it with other people to help us ultimately overcome the racial prejudice we have in the world today.”
Her speech titled ‘Ban the Box’ focused on official forms which stipulate only one box be ticked when it comes to someone’s ethnicity.
“In today’s multicultural world full of modern developments this ‘tick one box only’ system is antiquated, divisive and hurtful, she says.
As someone with a Māori father and a European mother, Lena (Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Maniapoto) says “one small box does not encapsulate” who she is.
“For me personally, either I tick Māori and deny my mum and her ancestry, or tick NZ European and deny my Dad and his whakapapa.
“At times, I used to leave it blank, and then I used to also tick two boxes but realised only Māori was recorded. I thought that was quite good to talk about and to raise awareness.
She says the box should be banned, or people should be able to tick more than one.
Speaking in front of others on a topic she is passionate about was “heaps of fun”.
“I love being surrounded by other people that were doing the same thing as me and talking and addressing the issues in today's society, and I really loved it.”
Fellow Karamu High School student Ethin Templeton also participated.
Lena says it is important for other youth to give it a go, and advocate change on issues they are passionate about, as change can come in many different forms.
“I think more youth should do it as they’ve got nothing to lose, and it’s a good thing to have knowledge about and to hear about as well.”
Principal Dionne Thomas says she is incredibly proud of both Lena and Ethin who gave passionate and impressive speeches.
“We encourage our students to find their voice and have opinions on issues that affect their lives.”
She says their school motto of “proudly Karamu” is in full force.
