Matea is an enthusiastic and inquisitive student, fueled by her passion for history and a steadfast commitment to human rights. She firmly believes that achieving equality is the linchpin to a better world, and this profound conviction has spurred her to embark on a project aimed at raising awareness about modern slavery while challenging notions of dominance.
Matea's perspective on her annual 5 km charity walk for Ratanak International has undergone a transformative shift. In her earlier years, she participated with reluctance, often finding reasons to complain - be it scraped knees, bleeding noses, or sheer exhaustion. Until recently, Matea lacked a deep understanding of the daily hardships endured by Cambodian girls, victims of modern slavery, and the immense suffering inflicted by human traffickers. Through reflection and research, she came to grasp the stark contrast between her complaints and the genuine struggles faced by these girls. This revelation ignited her passion to raise awareness about the gravity of modern slavery. Today, she embraces another walk with unwavering enthusiasm, driven by her commitment to shed light on this critical issue.
Matea is not only a high achiever in academics, consistently maintaining an average above 90% in grades 7, 8, and 9, but also a dedicated participant in numerous extracurricular activities. She has been a loyal member of the school band, actively engaged in Model UN, the history club, and the business club. Beyond these commitments, Matea dedicates her time to private music lessons outside of school, competes in the Wharton Investment Competition, and maintains a history blog on Instagram. She's also on a determined path to achieve the bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. In her spare time, Matea generously volunteers at the Welcome Centre Immigrant Services since July 2022. Furthermore, she has ambitious plans to launch her own project addressing the critical issue of modern slavery.
Matea's unwavering commitment and active engagement in both academics and extracurriculars stand as a testament to her dedication to making a positive impact on the world.
