Students from a Lowestoft high school have acted as representatives in Parliament as they support a youth campaign.
Two youngsters from East Point Academy joined others from across the country in taking the 300,000 strong Send My Friend to School youth campaign to Westminster this week – calling for increased investment in the power of education around the world.
World leaders have made clear a promise to ensure every child in the world gets a quality education by 2030. But a key piece of the puzzle is missing – the money to pay for this education – leaving the global picture with 263 million children missing out on school, and many of those in school not learning.
So to get the attention of their local MPs, thousands of young people across the country have been creating eye-catching paper jigsaw piece schools symbolising that there is a missing piece in the global education puzzle – the money to pay for good quality schooling. And have added their own messages about why they think the UK should invest in the power of education.
Rita Laranjeiro and Levi Lawson were selected to become Send My Friend Campaign Champions at East Point Academy. Alongside 16 others they took the message of the campaign to the heart of government through a Parliament Action Day - meeting with Waveney MP Peter Aldous and other parliamentarians and ministers.
Levi said: 'The entire day was incredibly enlightening in terms of how politics and campaigning can be so powerful, and to do it for Send My Friend was an enormous honour'
Mrs Louise Hacker, teacher at East Point Academy, said: 'Encouraging our young people to be involved in campaigning is very important to developing their political voice and helping them understand the role they have in democracy, Send My Friend is a fantastic way to do this whether you are involved locally or nationally,'
Ema Jackson, campaigns manager for the Send My Friend to School, said: 'I am delighted that Rita and Levi at East Point Academy are engaging with Mr Aldous to demand the UK invests in the future of the world.'
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