During the summer of 2024, I spent six weeks in Cambridge carrying out an independent research project with the supervision of Dr. Dan Carter, entitled ‘Reconquista Revival: An analysis of the utilisation of the Reconquista trope by the Spanish far-right party Vox.’ This summer, I had the privilege of volunteering with FemLink Pacific, a feminist media NGO in Fiji. 

Alongside these two projects, I have attended numerous training sessions on ethical leadership with Kate D’Arcy and Steve Joy. The Scholarship has also supported me to complete the Oxford Character Project, cultivating character for ethical leadership. I also had the wonderful opportunity to attend numerous talks by inspirational leaders, and to interview Trinity Hall alum and former Fairtrade CEO Harriet Lamb. 

My time with femLink Pacific in Fiji specifically has undoubtedly helped me to grow into a more global citizen and improve my ethical leadership skills. 

Certain aspects that defined my time in Fiji, such as the use of the English language and the national passion for rugby, connected me to my life at home in the UK. However, Fiji’s unique culture and society allowed me to learn about a different way of life. As a History and Modern Languages student, it was particularly interesting to see how the use of the indigenous language, iTaukei, intersected with the use of English. iTaukei features multiple untranslatable terms that offer insights into the country’s culture. Talanoa, signifying an open dialogue, or a safe space to share stories and discussions, is one such example. During a workshop on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data collection tools delivered by an Australian non-profit development agency, the importance of talanoa in feminist charitable work was highlighted. This conversation grew into a discussion of the importance of the decolonisation of aid and charity work, especially that which is often funded by overseas or international donors as in Fiji. 

I look forward to carrying my lessons learnt at femLink with me beyond my Laidlaw experience. Volunteering in a new and unfamiliar environment has been truly rewarding and an experience that I hope to repeat in the future.