Mount girls were inspired at the Leeds PeaceJam Slam 2023 at CATCH over the weekend.
Libby (College I), Caterina (College I) and Ava (Year 10) attended the Conference as part of their PeaceJam activities, which they signed up for through The Mount. The girls are also members of PeaceJam UK’s Youth Team.
The day featured three separate activity workshops, including a talk by Jen Hamilton about making a difference for climate change. Jen is a trustee of CATCH and the Net-Zero carbon lead for major global provider of consultancy and engineering services. Jen’s audience used a simple online tool to measure their carbon footprint. This had everyone thinking about steps they can take to help shape the change needed for a net zero future. The girls are already planning their social action projects and look forward to the next meetings online and in person.
“Thank you for the Peace Jam slam today in Leeds. My daughter came home really fired up about all the debate and discussion today, and plans for projects with her new PeaceJam friends and friends back at school. She had a happy and productive day, and is looking forward to being involved.”
PeaceJam empowers youth to be the change they want to see in the world. Through hands-on workshops, near-peer mentoring groups and social action planning sessions, young people find opportunities to be inspired and take action in their local communitiies. To facilitate sustainable change, the girls also have access to a six-week programme.
PeaceJam also provides opportunities for young people to learn more about the lives of Nobel Peace Laureates, and even to meet them. Mount pupils have enjoyed a long history of meeting laureates such as Betty Williams (1976 NPL), Adolfo Perez Esquivel (1980), Rigoberta Menchu Tum (1992), Leymah Gbowee (2011), Jody Williams (1997) and Mairead Maguire (1976). In 2012, Mount Senior School girls travelled to Manchester to hear the Dalai Lama (1989) speak.
Keep an eye out for Jen’s presentation during Careers’ Week 2024 when she will speak to Mount girls about Green Careers.