The annual EDI Event was held on Wednesday 5 October to welcome new students to the College, to showcase the different groups and support available to students whilst they are at The Henley College and to raise awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion issues.
In the weeks leading up to the event photographs and accompanying information about a person, or group of people, who played an important role in the development of Human Rights including Anne Frank, Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela and Ai Weiwei were on display around both sites at the College. There was also a wordsearch of Olympians and Paralympians held in Tutor groups.
The day of the event started with Kwame and Pape of African Activities holding drumming and dance workshops with Dance, Music and Pathways students. During the event there were fantastic performances by Pathways and Music students on the African drums, the Dance students performing a traditional African dance with Pape, thought provoking monologues by the Drama students and singing by the Choir, Rock School, Performing Arts and Steve Morano.
The Amnesty International Youth Group, LGBTQ+ Group, Pathways, Photography and Students’ Union all had stands at the event and there was a display in the Library of books with an EDI theme and information about the International Relations Discussion Group. The human rights photographs were displayed in the Deanfield and Rotherfield canteens on the day of the event. The canteen provided international taster dishes for the many students and staff who attended the event.
A lively debate was held in the Drama Studio with the motion ‘This house believes that the election of Donald Trump would be a disaster for human rights’. The motion was eventually defeated. There was a wonderful atmosphere through-out the event and Mark Turauskis noted that the Pathways ‘students came away feeling proud and exhilarated.’
