Three top scholars win trip to Mongolia
Three New Zealand high school students have won a Sanitarium-funded travelling scholarship to visit Mongolia with World
Vision, after an intensive week in Wellington this week.
The trio are: Betheli Calvert, 16, Kingsway School, Orewa; Chloe Murcott, 18, Waikato Diocesan School for Girls,
Hamilton; Hyun Myung Kim, 17, Westlake Boys' High School, North Shore.
The three scholars will travel to Mongolia in September to see World Vision's work among impoverished communities. They
will visit 40 Hour Famine-funded projects such as the Mongolia Street Children project, and a Community Care project for
mentally disabled children in the capital city Ulaanbataar.
The three were chosen from 21 students who were selected from the top 40 Hour Famine fundraising schools from around the
country to attend the Sanitarium scholarship week in Wellington this week (July 18 - 22). Each of the 21 high schools
had the opportunity to select a student based on their leadership skills and ability to organise and promote the 40 Hour
Famine within their school.
The 21 finalists spent this week learning more about aid and development, New Zealand foreign policy, and policies
towards children. They met with the Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Silvia Cartwright, and the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Trade, Hon. Phil Goff.
They also visited organisations, Dev-Zone (Global Education Centre), NZ Aid, and the Council for International
Development. Roger McClay, former Commissioner of Children, announced the three travelling scholars at the Awards Dinner
held at The Wellesley Hotel this evening. Scholars were chosen on the basis of an essay and interviews with World Vision
staff over the past week.
Mr McClay said the Sanitarium Scholars are being given an opportunity to widen their horizons "given the excellent start
in life they've got".
"They'll go on to be world-beaters and the experience will dramatically influence their lives."
It is the 22nd anniversary of the Sanitarium Health Food Company sponsoring scholars to travel to the developing world.
Mark Roper, Sanitarium's Marketing manager said at last night's event that the partnership gives an opportunity to
expose Kiwi young people to the plight of others less fortunate.
"This scholars week is a highlight in our calendar and it's exciting to hear the thoughts and dreams of these young
people and their desire to inspire others. We encourage them to take away their impressions of this week, to think on
them, and to share their inspirations with other people in their communities."
This year's 40 Hour Famine held in March has so far raised $2.8 million.
ENDS