Daniela Andrade, an experienced teacher from St Margaret's School for Girls in Chile, recently visited Queen Margaret College (QMC) in Wellington, New Zealand, with eleven secondary school students. St Margaret's is renowned for its rigorous academic programme and bilingual curriculum, blending Chilean and British education. Located in the coastal suburb of Concón in Viña del Mar, the school focuses on developing well-rounded students who excel academically and culturally.

Daniela, who grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Christchurch, New Zealand, has always been passionate about education and cultural exchange. After her family returned to Chile, she began her teaching career at The Mackay School for Boys, later joining St Margaret's when her daughters started school. With 18 years of experience teaching kindergarten and leading international exchange programmes, Daniela values the importance of cultural adaptability in education. Her daughters are now pursuing engineering at university, and Daniela continues to enjoy the balance between her professional and family life.

In August 2024, Daniela led a group of students to QMC as part of an ongoing exchange programme aimed at fostering cross-cultural understanding. The group was warmly welcomed with a pōwhiri and participated in various cultural activities. Daniela noticed the more reserved nature of QMC students compared to the lively, expressive students from St Margaret's. The group particularly enjoyed learning about New Zealand's Māori traditions and attending a cultural evening showcasing performances and cuisine, organised by QMC students from diverse ethnic backgrounds. These experiences provided Daniela and her students with a richer understanding of New Zealand’s cultural diversity.

The exchange programme between St Margaret's and QMC has been running for 15 to 18 years, offering students valuable opportunities to experience different cultures and broaden their global perspective. This programme also includes exchanges with schools in countries like Canada, England, and Australia. Daniela, who has participated in the programme twice, believes these exchanges are essential in helping students develop independence, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of the world. The students return home with enriched cultural awareness and a more empathetic worldview.

Daniela and her students were especially grateful for the warm reception they received at QMC and look forward to future opportunities to strengthen the exchange programme between the two schools.