Nor'West News: July 05, 2017

14
Tuesday July 5 2016
Our People
NOR’WEST NEWS
Isabella Garbett
Giving young people a voice
St Andrew’s College student Isabella Garbett, 17, was
recognised at the Canterbury Youth Awards for helping give
young people a voice. She spoke to Georgia O’Connor-
Harding about engaging with the youth of the city, her views
on gender inequality and the time she spends feeding the
homeless every Sunday.
How does it feel to have
been awarded the Advocate
Inclusion and Diversity Award
at the Canterbury Youth
Awards last week?
I was quite surprised. Aside
from that, I am so incredibly
humbled because the people I
was up against do some incredible
things. So good, but at the
same time I wish everyone could
be recognised for the awesome
things they have done.
This award is about ensuring
young people have a voice.
Could you tell me about some
of the things you do to ensure
this happens in the city?
Primarily what I do outside of
school is volunteer for New Zealand
Red Cross project, Bounce.
It came about after the earthquake
and it is centred around
creating a space for young people
to talk about well-being and
gearing them up with some tips
to deal with tough times. It is
run by young people for young
people. I came in when they were
starting to re-brand. It is about
finding ways to engage people. A
lot of people don’t want to read a
text book. It’s targeted at people
aged 12-24. In school, I am also
the head of community service,
the sustainability council, the
student council and head of
debating.
But that’s not all you are doing.
Are you an advocate for
women’s rights as well?
Most things I do with a feminist
lens. There is a real trend
with year 9-11 students where
they are quite apathetic to a lot of
women’s issues. (Men and women)
might be equal in the eyes of
the law, but we are not equal in
the eyes of society. It is important
to me when that younger
generation comes through that
they don’t forget about where we
have come from and we have a
good appreciation of women and
their places in society. But feminism
isn’t just about women – it
affects men, too.
What did you think of the
whole Hornby High School
skirt debacle last week?
That is just another classic
example of ridiculous doublestandards.
Because when you
tell girls that they need to wear
longer skirts because they are
distracting male teachers or male
students, you are telling a boy
he is more entitled to education
than a girl is – and that is just not
the case. A lot of the time people
don’t think about what they are
saying and how it translates. I
know the school’s response was
that it was not what they were
quite trying to say, but as soon as
you start saying those messages
it is really harmful.
Is there inequality in the city?
Yes, it is not horrific, but New
Zealand on a whole has quite
an interesting culture in terms
of gender inequality. Even with
young boys and the messages
we give them – that they have
got to be strong, don’t cry – that
is harmful. It is about ensuring
both genders are given equal
opportunity. We have horrendous
domestic violence, rape,
sexual violence. We have got bad
suicide stats in New Zealand as
a whole.
And you have made a major
contribution to the homeless?
Our school has a relationship
with this taxi driver called
Daniel, who runs a feeding the
homeless thing every Sunday at
Latimer Square. I started doing
that in year 10. I like to give back
when I can. Over time I have
built up some cool relationships
HIGH ACHIEVER: Isabella Garbett was recently recognised at the Canterbury Youth Awards.
(Inset) At the Canterbury A&P Show with Pablo, mascot for the New Zealand Red Cross project,
Bounce.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
with the people (involved).
Being able to understand why
the homeless are where they
are, and what is going on in
their lives, is like building a
friendship.
Tell me about some of the
most interesting people you
have met?
I met someone the other day
who has been out of prison for
five years. He is now working
with more recently released
prisoners to help them deal with
getting out of prison. There was
another guy, I’m not sure what
his background was, but he
sleeps on the street. He is one of
the nicest people I have ever met.
He keeps the order (in Latimer
Square), makes sure everyone
stands in a line and the kids get
fed first. He is the last to come
up and that is really humbling
to see.
What is it like seeing people
your own age and even younger
in that situation?
It breaks my heart. I do the
things I do because I have an
education and opportunity,
which means I will be able to go
somewhere. It is people like that
who keep me in check.
You are in your last year of
school. What do you want to do
next year?
I want to go to Victoria University
of Wellington. I want
to do a law degree and major
in gender studies and history and
do a Bachelor of Arts.
What is your big dream?
I want to end up running an
aid organisation. I want to focus
on women’s issues. I would love
to do something in first-world
countries in the lower-social
economic areas. Then, after that,
I want to go to Africa. I have got
a teacher who taught in Uganda.
I would love to do something
like that. It is going to be a lot
of work, but hopefully I am in a
situation raising the awareness of
people who are in the positions
of power. Also enabling those
who aren’t in power to get to
where they want to be.
Do you have any other
hobbies in your spare time?
I play four instruments and
I sing. Violin, piano, guitar
and viola. I love playing in the
school orchestra. Aside from
that, I hang out with my friends.
I would not be anywhere near
where I am today if it was not
for my friends and family. I am
really lucky to have people who
challenge me to think more
critically. I have two younger
brothers and my grandmother
also lives with us. I love them
dearly.
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