Upper School students had the pleasure to learn from Zozi Lencz (ISA Class of 2021) and his colleagues at the European Law Students’ Association (ELSA). They visited our campus to talk to students about the Rule of Law Education Campaign.

In these interactive lessons, the trainers (volunteer law students who are only slightly older than our own students) approached complex ideas such as human rights and the concept of rule of law. The lessons were conducted on a peer-to-peer scale and it culminated on a reflection of individual impact and personal contribution to ELSA’s mission – a just world in which there is respect for human dignity and cultural diversity – and ISA’s mission – to educate for global understanding.

Additionally, the ROLE campaign is linked to the IB learner profiles as it encourages students to be principled, open-minded, and reflective of democracy and of the social responsibility we owe to one another. The political neutrality of the campaign encourages students to think and reflect deeply on the ideals set by the rule of law and inspires inquisitiveness in those students who have not yet thought of what the rule of law entails, and what role it plays in our daily lives.

Being on the ISA grounds brought back many memories to Zozi. He shared:

“Apart from being able to reconnect with teachers who have molded me into the person I am today, I also got to experience being on the other side of the classroom, seeing an interest spark in the young learners, keen on gaining new understanding about the legal and political complexities of the world and how they can have an influence. I am glad that I was able to reconnect with the ISA community and give back to the school, hopefully inspiring more students to pursue careers like me in law but also educating them about their social responsibility in the world and the power their voice carries.”

When reflecting on his time at ISA, Zozi shared that one of his most memorable daily experiences were the class discussions he got to engage in, with motivated teachers and enthusiastic students, on contemporary topics that made one reflect and inquire further. “ISA has helped me connect with a range of different nationalities and people from many walks of life, allowing me to be exposed to a variety of different viewpoints and cultures, enriching my opinions to be well rounded and diverse.”

When asked what advice he would give current ISA students, Zozi said

“seek and take advantage of as many opportunities as you can to volunteer, gain new knowledge and travel. ISA offers a range of opportunities to help with this whether directly or through the many different people you can meet and form valuable connections with for life.”

Students were inspired to learn from an ISA alum and appreciated the knowledge shared from the trainers. We appreciate their contribution to making learning fun and meaningful to our students.