Kupakwashe Matangira recently returned home from the Young Diplomats Tour, where she visited Germany, France, Austria, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Belgium over the course of a month.

The students met UN representatives, politicians, diplomats, leading thinkers and more while learning about diplomacy and international relations across the continent.

“We learnt about everything that has led to the world we live in now,” Kupakwashe said.

The group visited the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Germany, the International Press Institute in Austria, the Transparency International EU Office in Belgium and the International Criminal Court in Netherlands, which was the highlight of the trip for Kupakwashe.

They discussed global issues such as climate change, refugee resettlement, foreign policy, the European Union, democracy and press freedom.

While she had learned about European history through school, the Hunter Christian School student said the trip really opened her eyes to the reality of that history.

“I learned so much,” she said. “Prior to the trip when I thought of Europe I thought of Western Europe such as Germany and France, but it was great to visit Eastern Europe and see the diversity.

“Europe is a patchwork quilt of different cultures and nationalities. 

“In the space of a month, this tour has broadened my worldview and allowed me to see the world with a whole new light.”

Kupakwashe said one of the major things she took away from the tour was a desire to try and help individual people.

She was inspired by the International Press Institute and its actions in trying to release journalists captured or detained for doing their job.

“It taught me to focus on individuals rather than the bigger picture,” she said.

Kupakwashe said she planned to focus on her studies now she is in senior school, but would continue to volunteer and see where things take her for the remainder of the year.