NSI 10th Anniversary Celebration at Edinburgh Castle
/On 29 February 2024 we held a special roadshow at Edinburgh Castle as part of our 10th anniversary celebrations!
The Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE DL VR welcomed students from across Scotland who have participated in NSI programmes to present their creative pieces to dignitaries including community leaders, members of the armed forces and MSPs attending the event. The young people reflected on a wide range of topics; from the centenary of the First World War to more recent conflicts. Military children also shared what it means to be a child of a serving parent. A powerful collective of youth voices, our future leaders and peace-keepers.
The following schools from across Scotland were represented: Gordonstoun School, Larbert High School, Elgin Academy, Lossiemouth High School, Colgrain Primary School, Hermitage Primary School, St. Leonards Primary School and Bell Baxter High School.
Dr Alice König, who spoke about the importance of including children in the peace building process, stated after the event:
NSI’s 10th anniversary event at Edinburgh Castle on 29th Feb 2024 captured exactly what this amazing charity is all about. It provided a platform – and a very high-profile audience! – for young people from all over Scotland, to share poetry, speeches, song and art expressing their views on conflict. It was moving to hear children from service families not only finding their own voices but being inspired by NSI to empower others in their community to come together and share and speak. And we also heard such powerful words from junior and senior school students on the costs of war, the legacy of forced displacement and positive paths towards peace. It was clear from conversations at the reception afterwards that their words had hit home with so many different listeners, from military personnel to politicians. This is what NSI is all about: not just helping young people express their views but giving them opportunities to influence and inspire the adults around them, as advocates, activists and experts in their own right. I am amazed by what NSI has achieved over the last ten years, and excited about their potential to continue empowering young people and helping them to shape our future conversations on conflict. Thank you NSI!
Our thanks go to the individuals that made this event such a success. These include the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE DL VR, our President Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence KCVO, CB, CSM, ADC, Hilary Scott and the Castle staff, Piper - Major R T McCrindle SG, our fabulous photographer Jenny Catlow and every parent and teacher that supported the stars of the show.
We are also incredibly grateful to the Balmoral, Apex and Ritz hotels for their kind contributions.
Guests listen to an Opening speech by lady lucy french obe - Founder & chair of nsi
David and Ekua from Larbert High School presenting their poems
Service child and NSI Young Ambassador Alfie delivering his speech
