During this year’s Human Rights Drop Down Day, we had the chance, as two senior students from Year 12 and Year 11, to work with the Year 7 and 8 groups on exploring how everyday situations connect to the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Instead of delivering a typical classroom talk, we designed a creative, performance-based workshop that allowed students to express their understanding through movement, dialogue, and imagination.
Our first aim was to show that human rights aren’t distant global debates, they exist in the everyday choices, interactions, and challenges young people experience. Each group received a scenario tied to a specific right, from education and freedom of expression to environmental protection and turned it into a short performance. Their scenes were sharp, clever, and surprisingly relatable. As senior students ourselves, it was refreshing to see how confidently the younger years interpreted ideas that are normally considered “too big” or “too serious.” Their energy carried the session effortlessly.
Another focus was helping them see how the United Nations protects these rights, not through long explanations, but by letting them experience it in action. When each group acted out moments where an “important thing” was taken away, they quickly identified which right was missing and why it mattered. One performance that stayed with us was Group 6’s piece on deforestation. The way they captured the impact of losing trees and how it affects our collective right to a clean, safe environment was creative, thoughtful, and delivered with impressive teamwork.
Overall, the session left us genuinely inspired. As senior students, it was meaningful to guide our juniors and watch them engage with such important topics with confidence and curiosity. Their enthusiasm made the workshop memorable, and we hope to support more initiatives that empower students to understand the rights that shape their world.
Angela L. and Nexus K.
Year 12 and Year 11 Student