Myrrhee Primary School and Cathedral College Wangaratta students lead workshops in Brisbane
Students and teachers from Myrrhee Primary School and Cathedral College Wangaratta recently travelled to and presented at the Social Enterprise Youth Forum in Brisbane.
The event brought together inspirational young leaders from around the world and explored the theme of working together to create a more sustainable future.
Climate action, social entrepreneurship and youth leadership were high on the agenda of topics discussed throughout the day.
The Victorian contingent included Grade 5 students Jack and Ivy from Myrrhee Primary School, and Year 10 students Ella and Alexandra from Cathedral College Wangaratta.
These 4 young social entrepreneurs took to the world stage on Tuesday 27 September 2022 when they presented at the Social Enterprise Youth Forum in Brisbane – a flagship event in the lead-up to the Social Enterprise World Forum.
'It was pretty incredible, presenting in front of a big crowd. And to think that people had travelled from around the world to be part of the forum was amazing. I learned so much,' Jack said.
Workshops explore social enterprises
During the forum, Jack, Ivy, Ella and Alexandra, along with their teachers, held 2 workshops with more than 120 people aged 16 to 30 years.
The students outlined to the group that a social enterprise is a business with the purpose of tackling an environmental, social or community issue.
They asked the participants to consider what they could be doing differently when considering the role social enterprise can play in helping to address community challenges.
'We decided we wanted to focus on gender equality and to help women affected by natural disasters. So we made beeswax wraps and upcycled old garden tools to sell,' Jack said.
The event was held while both schools also took part in the Social Enterprise Schools program.
Social Enterprise Schools program
In the lead-up to the Social Enterprise Youth Forum, the 4 Myrrhee Primary School and Cathedral College Wangaratta students participated in the Social Enterprise Schools program.
This is a hands-on, student-led program run by Social Enterprise Academy Australia that can help to develop leadership, collaboration and entrepreneurship skills.
Grade 5 student Ivy found the program and the process of setting up a social enterprise empowering and rewarding.
'It was up to us as students to create our social enterprise and we got to decide everything, including what cause our profits would help,' Ivy said.
Social Enterprise World Forum
The Social Enterprise World Forum travels the globe to raise awareness about social enterprise and to promote social change.
This year (2022) the event was held in Brisbane and next year (2023) it will travel to Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Find out more
For more information, refer to:
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