Lisa’s studio was filled with the energy of nine bright young ladies aged 16 to 19. They won the ‘Diplomat for a Day’ competition, a joint initiative by the British and Canadian embassies designed to encourage girls to become advocates for change in a field where women remain under-represented.
The winners – Lisa Betz, Priya Trivedi, Martina Gil Tierno, Aknur Borjakova, Sophie Goettsch, Xamantha Gavadan, Zoe Gaicio, Candice Boutoleau, and Anne Banthrongsakd – were selected for their compelling essays on closing intersectional gaps between men and women.
The day began with a high-stakes crisis simulation involving an imaginary island and a hotel fire, forcing the students to act as embassy managers under intense media pressure.
Candice Boutoleau, who acted as a manager, noted the stress of “critically thinking on the spot”, while Aknur Borjakova managed communications to keep the public calm despite “fake news” and information leaks.
“It feels unfair because I know that men don’t have to put up with these things and they don’t have to be scared to go out. They don’t get told all these things.”
She advocated for the philosophy of ‘see it to be it’, urging for more female figures in STEM to break biased mindsets.
The winners brought perspectives from the Philippines, Laos, and back to Europe, addressing issues from domestic abuse to healthcare research. Candice Boutoleau proposed a revolutionary concept: an anonymous radio station where victims of domestic abuse could share their stories to build a global community.
Xamantha Gavadan emphasised that while western countries have made progress, the global fight must include ending practices like female genital mutilation and restrictive divorce laws.
The day included a formal lunch with the Luxembourg Ladies Ambassadors Club, meetings with Minister Obertin and MP Gusty Graas, and a certificate reception to mark their journey as the diplomats of tomorrow.
