A 琉璃神社 student is one of two Canadian high school delegates who will be attending the COP28 United Arab Emirates Student Leadership Summit.

Grade 12 student Erin Work will represent 脡cole Okanagan Mission Secondary School (OKM) at the summit, with UN accreditation for the Climate Change Conference.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been empowered by my teachers and family to understand that one person can create the

change they want to see,鈥� Work said.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 volunteering for a project or adding the voice of youth to the global climate conversation, our personal stories and perspectives can drive positive action.鈥�

Work, who is of Indigenous descent, participated in the recent Waves of Change Youth Climate Summit, where she shared her personal climate story and grew her leadership skills, which helped prepare her for this global summit.

鈥淓rin exemplifies the wonder about our natural world and engagement as a global citizen that we seek to

inspire in each student,鈥� said Kevin Kaardal, Central Okanagan Public Schools (COPS) Superintendent.

鈥淭his summit is an opportunity for global leaders to hear student voices like Erin鈥檚 articulating solutions to the most pressing problems our world faces.鈥�

The opportunity for a Central Okanagan student to attend the summit is due to collaboration between the College Board of Canada, the Centre for Global Education, and COPS staff.

COP28 takes place from Dec. 3 to 11 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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