Wimbledon BookFest, London’s leading literature festival, hosted the UK school’s launch of the Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern’s memoir, A Different Kind of Power (Macmillan), on Monday 16 June, as part of their education programme.
Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, shared her inspiring story in conversation with acclaimed writer and broadcaster Afua Hirsch at Wimbledon High School. The special event was attended by five hundred sixth formers from 21 London schools and included some incisive questions on climate change, leadership, mental health, inclusion and more from a panel of young people. Thanks to the generous support of Wimbledon High School, the Girls’ Day School Trust and lead sponsor, the University of Roehampton, all state school pupils received a free copy of A Different Kind of Power.
In response to questions from the students about what they could do to have an impact on the world and should they feel hopeful, given the current global environment Jacinda replied:
‘I am an optimist. I know that when you are an optimist people treat you like you’re naive. It’s not naive, optimism is expecting the world should be better, optimism is expecting that your leader should do a better job than they’re doing now and optimism is what keeps Hope alive…and so in this moment in time hold onto your optimism because the opposite of optimism is that of indifference’.
Wimbledon BookFest is an annual community-focused celebration of books and culture with a thriving education programme at its heart, supporting literacy, encouraging a love of reading and creating opportunities for children and young people through writing workshops, author talks, events and volunteering opportunities. Over 15,000 pupils from schools across south London engage with BookFest’s creative projects every year.
The Festival’s celebrated schools programme, run in partnership with lead sponsor the University of Roehampton will feature events with authors Stephen Mulhern, MC Grammar, Nadia Shireen, Charlene White, Jamila Gavin, Liz Pichon and Christopher Edge this autumn, while skills development programme Wimbledon BookFest Academy offers sixth formers the opportunity to learn more about the creative industries and gain work experience at the Festival. Find out more.
Fiona Razvi, Festival Founder and Director said: “We were delighted to bring Dame Jacinda Ardern to Wimbledon to share her inspiring personal story, unique insight into global politics and leadership, and message of hope for the future with hundreds of young people. For young people to get the opportunity to engage and ask questions with a former Global Leader on the things that matter to them is a very rare opportunity. It was a truly inspirational experience and one they will long remember. We want to thank sponsors Wimbledon High School and Girls’ Day School Trust for helping us gift copies of ‘A Different Kind of Power’ to students, and in particular the University of Roehampton for continuing to support our vital education work.”
Photos credit John Stone