Youth advocate An Le, a finalist at the 2024 Tasmanian Young Achiever Awards, shares her thoughts on peace and Rotary’s Peace Poles project.
Being part of Hobart City High School has opened many doors for me. I love dedicating my time to community initiatives, and I’m thrilled to be a part of a project that symbolises peace and unity.
Our school, which recently transitioned from New Town High School and Ogilvie High School to Hobart City High School, is undergoing an exciting renovation. We are building new facilities and preserving the rich cultures that make our school unique. With students speaking over 40 languages, we chose to represent Palawa Kani and English on our Peace Poles alongside the languages spoken by many of our refugee students: Nepali, Farsi, Arabic and Karen.
I want to express my gratitude to the Rotary Club of North Hobart for its support. I am incredibly proud to think about how future students will benefit from the enhanced facilities and the two Peace Poles on both campuses. As a school, we are excited to present these poles during our upcoming presentation evening.
Around the globe and across a range of issues, peace is the missing piece. People want peace and security. People want peace and dignity. And, frankly, they want peace and quiet.
The current global conflict situation is alarming, with multiple significant wars and numerous more minor conflicts contributing to an unstable international environment. The increasing number of conflicts, rising number of deaths, and growing international involvement present substantial challenges to global peace and security.
As a young person living in a time where wars are only getting more regular and devastating, it feels like we’re living in a constant state of uncertainty and fear. It’s hard to say how deeply these conflicts affect us – not just the people directly involved but all of us. Each day, we are met with headlines that reveal destruction and despair. It’s heartbreaking to think about how many dreams are shattered in an instant and how many children are robbed of their childhoods because of violence and chaos.
It feels like so many of us are trapped in a survival cycle where the essential act of living has become a daily struggle. People are consumed by thoughts that should never overshadow humanity. This survival mentality takes away the essence of what it means to be human.
“Do I buy nappies for my children or put food on the table?” It’s a constant battle between meeting immediate needs and planning for an increasingly uncertain future.
I think about the families who wake up each day not knowing if they’ll have a home to return to or if their loved ones will come back safe. The fear and tension must be unbearable. Let’s not forget that there’s a person behind every statistic – a mother, a child, a friend. It makes me realise that we can’t just stand by and watch; we must speak up and advocate for peace. We must remember that everyone deserves the chance to live fully, not to just survive.
The Peace Poles represent more than a message; they inspire unity among people of all cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds. They remind us that, despite our differences, we can come together to encourage understanding and compassion.
About the Author
An Le, of West Moonah, Tas, has been an exceptional community contributor since the age of 10, when she first volunteered at the Migrant Resource Centre. An advocates for environmental causes through her Nest for Life project, leaving a lasting impact on communities.
She actively promotes youth inclusion in decision-making via platforms such as the Youth Network of Tasmania, CCYP Ambassador, Youth Advisory Squad, and the Make it 16 campaign, ensuring young voices are heard. With her passion for STEM, she aspires to pursue a medical profession to address community health needs and create meaningful societal impacts through her projects and volunteer work.
An was a 2024 finalist for the Spirit Super Connecting Communities Award at the Tasmanian Young Achiever Awards.
To order a Peace Pole or obtain more information, contact Michael Rabey, of the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, ACT, on 0411 367 700 or via [email protected]