Bayside Council coordinated a successful 10-week Youth Advocacy and Future Leaders Program at J J Cahill Memorial High School that culminated in a mini expo on Tuesday 22 June 2021.
Bayside Council partnered with 2 Connect Youth and Community and South Eastern Community Connect to run the program. Sydney Multicultural Community Services, 3 Bridges and 2 Connect supported the program by mentoring students.
During the 10-week program students engaged in world issues and positive ways to create constructive change.
The also picked up skills in teamwork, advocacy, project development, ethical leadership presentation and public speaking skills.
Students were helped by four mentors:
- Indigenous rights mentor
- Refugee rights mentor
- Domestic and Family Violence Advocate mentor
- Anti-Racism mentor
Students choose one of the four topics above and then worked in small groups with the relevant mentor who helped deepen their understanding.
The following student projects were showcased at a mini expo on Tuesday 22 June 2021
- Drive for DV: This group held fundraising drive for Bayside Women's Shelter and ran a cupcake stall at the expo to raise money for Bayside Women's Shelter. They also produced a domestic violence educational flyer.
- Youth Against Racism: This group did a hand print pledge with handprints on canvas to stand up against racism.
- Refugee Stories: This group created a short video where they interviewed three refugees who told their stories.
- Youth for A Yarn: The Indigenous Rights group coordinated a yarning circle for term 3. They created flyers and brochures that educated their peers on yarning circles and Indigenous rights.
