Andrii Rokotianskyi, a 13-year-old student at St Edward's School in Poole, has spoken at the House of Lords after winning second place in a national speechwriting competition.
Andrii, a talented Year 9 student who arrived in the UK from Ukraine two years ago, was invited to the House of Lords to deliver his powerful speech about war and displacement.
Andrii, who joined St Edward's School in Year 7, arrived in the UK with no English skills but quickly adapted, picking up the language at an impressive speed thanks to his determination and support from his teachers.
His passion for public speaking blossomed through the school’s oracy programme, and in June 2024, he entered the First News National Speechwriting Competition. His moving piece, titled “Building a World Without War,” explored his own experience as a refugee and his hope for a peaceful future, drawing from his personal experience.
Andrii said:
"I felt extremely proud of what I achieved. I hope my speech can help people understand the importance of peace and the impact war has on children like me. Everyone has a role in building a peaceful future."
Andrii’s entry earned him an invitation to speak at a celebration event hosted by Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell of Glenscorrodale on November 28th, where winners and runners up of the First News speech writing competition addressed an audience of 50. This included prominent figures such as Nicky Cox MBE, Editor of First News, Rt Hon Lord Jack McConnell, and the Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza.
While the experience made Andrii nervous, he left with an immense sense of pride. He summed up his time:
“It was a little scary at first, but after I spoke, I felt really proud of myself. Now that my confidence in public speaking has grown, I’m certain that this will not be my last time speaking in Parliament!”
He hopes his words, which called for action towards creating a world without war, will inspire those in positions of power to make a difference.
Andrii’s speech appears to have left a lasting impression on those who attended. After hearing it, Dame Rachel de Souza, invited him to contribute to a new project focusing on children’s hopes and ambitions for England in 2025 and beyond.
Headteacher at St Edward’s School, Mr Michael Antram, said:
“All of us at St Edward’s are incredibly proud of Andrii and his fantastic achievements since arriving with us from Ukraine. To watch him adapt so well and go on to share his powerful story at such an incredible celebration is heartwarming. Dame Rachel de Souza is a brilliant advocate for the young people of our country, and we are honoured that she recognised the talents of one of our students. We have no doubt that this is only the beginning of Andrii’s story, and we look forward to seeing what he goes on to achieve.”
Andrii was also interviewed on BBC Radio Solent about his outstanding achievement. Listen to his interview below: