Charlotte (Year 7) Leads the DEI Student Group
We had the chance to speak with Charlotte (Year 7), the passionate student leader behind the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Student Group ECA. She shared what inspired her to start the initiative, what the group has accomplished so far, and her hopes for the future.
What inspired you to start the DEI Student Group?
"Before I joined Senior School, I didn’t really understand the concept of DEI. But by the end of Term 1, I started noticing that people aren’t always treated the same way, and some situations just didn’t feel fair. That made me realise how important it is to learn about DEI. If I had known more earlier, I would have felt more confident standing up for myself and for others. That’s what motivated me to take action."
What has the DEI Student Group done so far?
Together with Mrs Gogin, Charlotte began by analysing survey responses from 150 students about their experiences with DEI at Dulwich College Seoul.
"It was exciting because I had never worked with survey data before. I didn’t expect people to be so honest, which is not something I’ve experienced in the past. But because the responses were anonymous, the feedback felt very real."
Charlotte turned the survey results into a presentation and shared them during a school assembly. One key question asked, “Has anyone ever been unkind to you, and why?” The top three reasons were:
1. Academic ability
2. Appearance
3. Ethnicity
Following the assembly, students participated in a tutor time activity, working in small groups to discuss the issues and brainstorm ideas for change. Charlotte’s group focused on appearance and created a poster titled “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover.” They also designed a short quiz with multiple choice questions to encourage reflection on stereotypes and bias.
What did you learn from the survey?
“What really stood out to me was how students were aware that something was wrong or that they were being treated unfairly. In books I’ve read before, characters often just became self-conscious. They didn’t really acknowledge that others were being unkind. Maybe that’s one of my own stereotypes. I felt really motivated when I saw that other students also had the eagerness to make a change.”
Charlotte’s personal reflection
"After making the presentation and leading the activity, I feel more informed. I now understand more about why people might behave a certain way or hold certain biases. That understanding makes me feel more confident to speak up and try to make a difference."
What’s next?
Charlotte is happy to share that six new students will be joining the DEI Student Group next year. She hopes the group can grow and lead more school wide initiatives, including regular surveys to understand what matters most to students.
She also shared a recent experience that inspired her.
"I went to a local library and saw a display inviting people to write down their thoughts on different topics. It made me realise how powerful it is to gather people’s honest opinions and stories. That’s something I want to do more of. Listening is key to making change."
Looking ahead, Charlotte hopes to run more DEI related activities and open up space for meaningful conversations.
"I read a book a year ago about how schools in the US and Europe face challenges related to DEI. But in Korea, I’ve never really had the chance to meet anyone working on these issues. That’s why I wanted to start something here. I hope we can keep the conversation going and make our school a more inclusive place, step by step."
