Crazy Ideas College, in partnership with Ararat Rural City Council, held an inspiring Ideas2Life event last month, where fifteen Year 8 and 9 students from Marian College came together to showcase their ideas to shape the future of our community.
At this mixer-style event, student teams showcased their projects at individual stations with posters and photos. As a slideshow of each team's images played in the background, attendees walked around and talked with each team about their work.
Some of the innovative student-generated ideas included a fun, safe, after-school space for teenagers to pursuit their interests and build positive relationships, creating small kits containing women's hygiene products to distribute to support women in need in the local community, and native Australian animal sculptures that will be placed next to rubbish bins in local parks to reward people with native seed packets for properly disposing of their waste, helping to enrich the community's ecosystem.
The student groups received support and expertise from community partner attendees including Ararat Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Jo Armstrong, Central Grampians LLEN Partnerships and Pathways Coordinator, Benjamin Bailey-Webb, and Elders Finance Broker, Cheryl Rapson. Their insights and guidance were invaluable as the students worked together to bring their ideas to life.
This event is a continuation of the highly successful Social Innovators Program, which saw over 80 Year 8 and 9 students from Ararat College, Marian College, and Lake Bolac P-12 come together at Ararat's Gordon Street Recreation Reserve earlier in the year for two big days of innovation, creativity, and community impact.
"This event is a powerful reminder of the creativity, energy, and leadership that our young people bring to the table, not just for the future, but right now," says Ararat Rural City Council Deputy Mayor, Cr Bob Sanders. "They're already active contributors to our community, and by investing in them, we are investing in the future of Ararat."
Charlotte Kidd, Head of Place Partnerships, Crazy Ideas College, said, "i2L is where young people move from ideas to action, but that's only part of the magic. They get to shape projects that strengthen their community and, in the process, discover their own place in it more clearly. What makes it so powerful is seeing young people's deep care come to life, building stronger connections with each other, their community, and their region."
