Aiden Green from V3c became the first runner-up in the school round of the Soapbox Challenge with his speech Wildfire Safety: Your Role Matters. With the winner unable to attend, Aiden represented Eijkhagen College at the regional round in Utrecht. Delivering his speech with passion and conviction, Aiden shared real-life stories of families affected by wildfires, highlighting the human side of the issue. He said: “It burned all the way to the ground,” she says. “We lost it early in the incident Saturday night. My husband was still in the valley at that point and discovered he had left his insulin pens at the house and went back for them, and the house was gone.” He rounded up by stating, “It becomes abundantly clear that wildfire safety is not just a matter of personal responsibility but a collective responsibility that each one of us carries. While climate change and human actions have exacerbated the problem, we hold the collective power to reverse this trend!”
Having won the regional rounds, Aiden had one week to prepare an entirely new speech, and he did a fantastic job! His powerful words resonated with the judges and audience, leaving a lasting impact. This time, he focused on micro-activism in his speech: Seeds of Change: The silent force of societal transformation! What is micro-activism? In his words, “Micro-activism, a term coined to describe the impactful potential of small-scale actions in effecting societal change, emerged in response to the overwhelming challenges faced by communities globally. Each seemingly insignificant action, each protest sign held, each petition signed, and each conversation contributed to the gradual evolution of societies towards greater justice, equality, and human rights. A smile, a kind word, a gesture of support, these seemingly small moments can have a profound impact on someone’s day, fostering connections and building a more empathetic society.” What a call to action!
Aiden’s stellar performance in the finals in Utrecht earned him a well-deserved second place! What a significant achievement and we couldn’t be prouder of him. CONGRATULATIONS AIDEN!
On a final note, all the finalists were invited to afternoon tea with the UK Ambassador to the Netherlands in the Hague on 24 April. Some of the pictures show Aiden at the event.
