By Marie Clare Tully, CEO Columba 1400
I love seeing the power and potential of Scotland’s young people.
I was at The Hunter Foundation’s Founder’s Conference – Scaling Up Scotland 2025 earlier this month, where the winner of their ‘If I Ruled Scotland’ competition was announced.
The winner is Parvathy Othagatt, an S1 pupil from Hyndland Secondary School in Glasgow. She was selected from more than 500 entries across Scotland for her thoughtful and ambitious ideas for Scotland’s future.
It was wonderful to meet her after she was awarded her prize by Sir Tom Hunter and to talk about her incredible ideas.
Part of Parvathy’s prize is a Columba 1400 Young People’s Leadership Academy (YPLA) for her school. We cannot wait to be alongside Parvathy who will be involved in shaping each stage of the YPLA. This experience takes place over three distinct phases, and we are looking forward to starting Phase 1 in the school, before welcoming her and her fellow pupils for the residential element at our purpose-built Community and International Leadership Centre in Staffin, Isle of Skye.
There, they will have the chance to step away from the everyday, explore their values, and discover their own sense of purpose – just as thousands of young people from across Scotland have done before them.
This week it was great to meet with Hyndland Secondary School’s Head Teacher, Louise Edgerton (who was awarded Headteacher of the Year (State) at the TES School Awards in London earlier this year), along with our Partnership Manager, Leah Dobbs who will be alongside Hyndland Secondary School on their Columban journey.
I also want to send congratulations to the three runners-up: Chelsey Worlin from Johnstone High School, Millie Richford from St Ninian’s High School in Kirkintilloch, and Primary 6b from Giffnock Primary School – whose creative ideas for Scotland’s future were equally inspiring.
Elodie McLaren, also from Hyndland Secondary School, and primary seven pupils from Lanark Primary School were commended for their efforts.
Moments like this remind me why Columba 1400 exists. Young people like Parvathy are full of ideas, energy and empathy – they simply need the space and encouragement to grow into the leaders they already have the potential to be.
Scotland’s future feels brighter knowing it is in the hands of young people like Parvathy.
We invite you to find out more about our Young People’s Leadership Academies here and to get in touch with us at [email protected] if you would like to explore this opportunity for your young people.
