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30 September 2019

A passionate and moving speaker: Daisy Lavea-Timo visits Auckland schools

Christchurch-based slam poet Daisy Lavea-Timo visited Auckland schools as part of our Writers in Schools programme last week.

At Auckland Girls' Grammar School, she shared her heart and words:

“Daisy's presentation was inspiring and very motivational for our students. They were engaged and attentive during her presentation and her spoken word poetry truly hit home for most girls. The teacher believe that Daisy's honesty and truth through her journey and life advice for the students was the most memorable. The students were able to relate and understand her stories which made them even more meaningful and moving.”

Mangere College librarian Pauline Kumar shared her students' experience with us:

“Daisy Lavea-Timo is an excellent, passionate and moving speaker. Daisy captured her audience, they were in awe with her. She brings out the quiet student from her audience and he recites his own poem with such emotion, prompted by Daisy as he read. We were very privileged to have Daisy and are planning a school assembly with her as guest speaker in 2020. Thank you very much for this opportunity. Having Daisy at our school library was the best we could ever ask for. Staff and students present cannot stop talking about her.”
“Here is the poem that Daisy encouraged the student to recite. Alec Ah-Lam, a very quiet, not so confident was encouraged along by Daisy and it brought tears to our audience. A touching memorable moment for Alec and all of us too.”

More than dirt


From the top of my head to the soles of my feet I am brown.

My skin refers to society’s most unsatisfying element. Dirt.

That is how you think of me. But I tell you this, I am more than dirt. I am dirt that has life with a purpose to fulfill and from that dirt stems a plant.

Laughter and mockery come from the mouths of the tall, big trees. But as soon as time comes and goes, the plant grows and mockery from the tall, big trees fade.

Unlike any other tree it brings forth fruit.

Fruit of inspiration, motivation and kindness.

Now listener, you may ask me “Who is that tree?”

That is me. The one who was the dirt.


-Alec Ah-Lam, 11HI Mangere College

Thank you to both schools, and to Alec for sharing your poetry with us.
And, of course, a big thank you to Daisy for being part of our Writers in Schools programme.

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