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13-year-old Commonwealth Gold essayist — help get her to John Locke Institute summer school in Oxford, UK

$610 of $8,000 goal

Given by 9 generous donors in 6 weeks

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13-year-old Christchurch student Siraya has been accepted to the John Locke Institute at Oxford. Help us get her there.

Christchurch, Canterbury

Siraya is 13 and has just placed Gold in the 2025 Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition — recognised among 53,434 entries from 56 countries, judged by a panel including Sir Ben Okri OBE and Imtiaz Dharker.

She's also been selected by the John Locke Institute in Oxford for their August summer school in Ethics, Political Economy and Public Policy. The Institute accepts roughly 1 in 6 applicants from 130 countries.

She did all of this herself.

From her referee — an academic who has known her for over a decade:

"She heard of John Locke, became self-initiated in his ideas, started reading his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, and from there researched the Institute herself... She is not a pet project of her parents... Non-conformist, fiercely articulate, driven, self-propelling."

In her own words:

"I want to keep the sparkle in my eyes. I never want to lose it. I do not want to become bland wallpaper blending into a sterile office."

She's a Burnside High student fundraising the cost with help from teachers, family friends, and (we hope) a few people who think this is worth backing.

From Siraya:

"Going to the John Locke Summer School would be like 'heaven to touch.' I want to go there 'so much.' It's almost 'too good to be true,' but 'I can't take my eyes off of' going."

(Can't Take My Eyes Off You — Frankie Valli, 1967)

Jonathan Visser's involvement (page creator)

I'm Siraya's father. She's running this campaign with my support — the work is hers, the choices are hers. My job is logistics. I co-own a small Sumner business and I'm putting my own contribution in alongside everyone else's.

Use of funds

Programme fees (USD $5,500 / ~NZD $9,300), return flights to the UK. Siraya has already contributed NZD $2,000 from her savings. If we exceed the goal, surplus goes toward her academic pursuits beyond Oxford. If we fall short, we'll bridge the gap.

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