Today the ABC, together VicHealth, has announced the young winners of the 2021 Takeover Melbourne storytelling competition, showcasing the brightest young storytellers from across the city.
Hundreds of young Melburnians leaped at the chance to share their experiences and passions, with twenty-nine winners selected to have their stories featured on the ABC.
Now in its second year, the Takeover Melbourne initiative is run by the ABC with major partner VicHealth and support from City of Melbourne and the Centre for Multicultural Youth.
This year's stories range from finding the confidence to raise your hand at school, to raising your voice for neurodiverse young people everywhere. From learning to connect with your culture, to connecting with the ones you love through a screen because of COVID-19. From budding astronomers, to musicians, athletes and Rubik's Cube champions; the 26 stories show a diverse and multicultural Melbourne.
Helen, 16, from West Melbourne, was teased at school for bringing Pâté in Bánh Mì for lunch. She shared a story about reconnecting with Vietnamese culture and rediscovering her childhood love of Bánh Mì.
"Becoming a winner has given me a lot more confidence," she said." Young people have a whole new and different perspective, and I think it's important for both other young people and older people to hear what we have to say."
"I would like to thank all of the inspiring young people for sharing their stories as part of Takeover Melbourne in 2021. At VicHealth, we are committed to providing more young people with safe spaces to share their thoughts and ideas, through initiatives such as Takeover and our Future Healthy initiative," states Dr Sandro Demaio, CEO of VicHealth.
Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp congratulated the Takeover Melbourne winners. "It's been incredibly inspiring reading the words of these courageous young storytellers. The future is in the hands of our young people, and initiatives like Takeover Melbourne prove that we can expect big things from the next generation."
Director of ABC Regional and Local, Judith Whelan, welcomed the return of the program in its second year. "We heard from so many articulate and community-minded young people in the first year of Takeover Melbourne, all of whom had a fresh and collaborative approach to helping make their communities better. I'm looking forward to hearing the inspiring stories from this year's participants."
The Takeover Melbourne winners will be showcased across the ABC, so keep an eye out for their stories on ABC Radio Melbourne and on the News stream via the ABC Listen app throughout November and December. They will also be celebrated at a gala event in early 2022.
To see the full list of Takeover Melbourne winners and hear their stories visit:abc.net.au/takeover
Takeover Melbourne is made possible with support from major partner VicHealth and their Future Healthy initiative, and additional support from the Centre for Multicultural Youth, and the 32 local councils of Greater Melbourne, facilitated by City of Melbourne.
