From discovering local gems around The Hills to sharing meaningful messages, our Hills Youth Ambassadors are turning big ideas into action for young people across the Shire.
Two standout projects led by Council's 2025-2026 Youth Ambassadors Advika Kapoor (pictured left) and Rihanna Soundranayagam (pictured right) are providing opportunities for local young people to connect and express their creativity.
Advika's project, The Message Tree, invites young people to share their thoughts and messages with the community on leaf-shaped notes that will be hung on a tree installation displayed during Youth Week.
Advika said The Message Tree is a powerful visual representation of youth voices in our community.
"Each leaf on the tree represents a young person's words and their contribution to bettering our community," said Advika.
"I'd truly encourage other young people to take part in this initiative because it's such an easy way to make a positive impact and bring a smile to someone's face! Writing a short message doesn't take long, but it can mean a lot to somebody, and it can raise youth awareness."
Rihanna's project, The Hills Youth Passport, encourages young people to discover hidden gems across the Hills, capture their experiences through photos, and earn entries to win prizes like AirPods or Bluetooth speakers with every location they visit.
Rihanna said the initiative transforms local exploration into a fun adventure.
"The Youth Passport encourages young people to visit local places, attend events, and get involved in youth programs while ticking off activities in a passport-style format," said Rihanna.
"The idea came from noticing that a lot of young people don't always know what opportunities are available to them locally. By taking part in the initiative, they develop a stronger understanding of their local area and the opportunities within it, while also becoming more confident and independent."
To find out more about Council's Youth Ambassador Initiatives, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and search 'Youth'.
