FROM BELFAST TO LAUNCESTON

I used to live in a place where walls were built to keep people apart. In Belfast, communities of different religious and political beliefs are divided by six-metre-high walls – this is accepted as ‘normal’. Catholics on one side – who believe in a United Ireland, and Protestants on the other – who believe in Northern Ireland’s place in the UK. There are dozens of these walls all across Northern Ireland, constructed to try to reduce sectarian violence. 98% of social housing in Northern Ireland is split along religious lines. But it isn’t just physical barricades that keep these communities apart, people actively choose not to intermix, a self-imposed apartheid. Two thirds would choose an alternate route rather than go through a neighbourhood of people with different beliefs.

Education is highly segregated with 93% of Northern Irish students going to either a Protestant or Catholic school. This presents the serious notion that the average student can grow up and enter adulthood without having a genuine conversation with someone from the other side. This gap in knowledge of the other side is exploited by those who wish to foster hate. You are taught that the others hate you, so you should hate them.

Exposure is key. Growing up divided leads to us not seeing, ‘the others’, as people, people just like you. The first step toward harmony is tolerance and understanding, only after that, can acceptance follow.

Arriving here in Australia, the barricades instantly dissolved. Australia’s multiculturalism is what makes it great, you don’t need to go on a Round Square trip to experience multiculturalism. It is as simple as going to a school like this one, with its diverse cultural representation, that we should never take for granted.

Calan Young
Year 11 Student

CULTURAL IMMERSION IN SOUTH AFRICA

 

I believe that exploring multiculturalism is incredibly valuable because it broadens perspectives, fosters open-mindedness, and builds empathy. When young people, especially teenagers, experience different cultures, they develop a deeper understanding of diversity beyond what they learn in books or media. It helps them appreciate different traditions, languages, and ways of life, making them more adaptable and culturally aware.

My experience in South Africa opened my eyes, challenged my perspectives, and left me with a deep appreciation for the beauty of human connection. The most important thing I learnt is to always be grateful, even when unhappy. Don’t ever take anything you have for granted, because we are very privileged compared to many others around the world. I learned that embracing diversity starts with a mindset of acceptance, understanding, and a willingness to connect with others, beyond our comfort zones.

Sophie Storay
Year 11 Student

One of the most profound moments I experienced during my time in South Africa, and in my life, was an impromptu dance in a chapel to marimba music. A boy stood up to dance, he moved in front of the entire school with such confidence that I expected to see him laughed at. Instead, his peers smiled and joined in, rising from their seats to dance with him. It was an experience I can’t fully put into words—a raw, authentic form of self-expression that I had never witnessed in Australia.

Together, we danced, laughed, and sang with the Tiger Kloof students. The moment felt so natural – it was the first time I truly understood the richness of culture, not as something distant or abstract, but as something living and vibrant, shared between people. I felt the connection between different worlds, and I realized that culture isn’t something you can simply observe—it must be experienced, shared. Multiculturalism isn’t just a concept—it’s a relationship between cultures, one that can only be forged through mutual understanding and sharing.

Bella Wilson
Year 11 Student

Despite immense challenges, the people of Kliptown in Soweto, Johannesburg, have created a space where young individuals can further their education and work toward a future outside of poverty. What struck me most was their unwavering positivity and kindness. They were so humble, inclusive, and grateful. Their smiles never wavered as they worked tirelessly, not just for their own betterment, but to lift up those around them.

Witnessing this level of selflessness and humility was a turning point for me. I realized how often I had taken things like access to clean water, food, shelter, and electricity for granted. The sense of community, unity, and support among the people of Kliptown was incredibly humbling.

What stood out most was how inclusive South African people were. They welcomed us with open arms, eager to share their culture and lives. They saw us as partners, not outsiders, in their mission to improve their community. Their gratitude for even the smallest things deeply impacted me. This experience has profoundly changed my perspective, and I am forever thankful for the lessons I learned from the people of South Africa.

Amelie Donald
Year 11 Student

At St Georges Grammar school in Cape Town, students are not defined by one single culture, race, or belief. Instead, they come from many different racial and cultural groups, each bringing its own strengths, stories, and perspectives. Difference gives them the opportunity to learn from one another, to see the world through different lenses, and appreciate their unique differences. I met students who were considered as white – descended from the English and Dutch colonists who landed in Cape Town 300 years ago, students who were considered black – descended from native African peoples from further north in Africa, students considered “Coloured” who are mixed race – descended from both the white colonists and the local people of the Cape Town Region and students considered as Asian or Malay – descended from slaves that were brought to Cape Town by the Dutch from Indonesia and Malaysia.

St George’s Grammar School represents the new South Africa – a melting pot of culture and religion where mutual respect is a given. In just one day of meeting me, our hosts eagerly shared their knowledge and rich cultural history. Their kindness and generosity gave me a unique perspective on how, despite coming from opposite sides of the world, simple acts of kindness can bridge any gap between us.

Emily Frame
Year 11 Student

At Tiger Kloof School I experienced a strong mix of languages and histories, the students promote unity through a range of different cultural activities and performances such as gum boot dancing. Talking to students at Tiger Kloof and hearing their stories was a great way to learn about the differences between our history and culture compared to theirs, and our different celebrations.

Emily Knaggs
Year 11 Student