YSPer attends UN-Habitat’s World Urban Forum
With over half the worlds population living in cities and this figure set to swell to 70% by 2050, sustainable urbanisation is the greatest design challenge of our generation. Sustainable Cities is the topic that brought together over 12,000 professionals, government delegates and NGOs for the World Urban Forum and the World Urban Youth Assembly, global events organised by the UN-Habitat from March 22-26 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lucinda Hartley, [co]design studio director and 2009 Young Social Pioneer, attended the forum as an invited speaker on youth, urbanisation and climate change, arguing that emerging designers need to become actively involved in shaping the future of their cities, and that designers can play a key role as partners in development.
As part of the World Urban Youth Assemble, [co]design launched it’s inaugural emerging designers program WE BUILD, a collaborative design project that will bring together design leaders from Australia and India to create a sustainable living precinct for migrant workers in Bangalore, India. WE BUILD is an initiative of Global Citizen’s for Sustainable Development and is also part of the UNESCO Observatory’s Cultural Villages Project at the University of Melbourne. For further information on [co]design’s programs please email codesignstudio@gmail.com or become a fan on Facebook: codesign studio.
Photo: Lucinda Hartley with Dr Anna Tibajuka, Under Secretary General of the UN and Executive Director of UN-Habitat
Register now for the Schools First Partnership Forums
Registrations are now open for the Schools First Partnership Forums which are taking place in over 30 metropolitan and regional centres across Australia. Designed to explain the Schools First Awards program and the application and judging process before applications open on Monday, 28 June 2010, the Forums are strongly recommended for anyone from a school-community partnership who are looking at applying for an award in 2010. Read more here.
FYA supports National Compact
FYA was honoured to be one of only 21 ‘Third Sector’ organisations from across Australia asked to be a founding signatory to the Federal Government’s National Compact: working together.
After two years of consultation and discussions, the National Compact was official launched on Wed 17 March. FYA’s CEO Adam Smith attended the launch event in Canberra alongside representatives from organisations such as Australian Red Cross, World Vision, Reconciliation Australia, beyondblue, Australian Council of Social Service and Mission Australia.
The National Compact is an important document that seeks to redefine the relationship between community and not-for-profit organisations and Government and articulates eight primary priorities -
1. Document and promote the value and contribution of the Sector;
2. Protect the Sector’s right to advocacy irrespective of any funding relationship that might exist;
3. Recognise Sector diversity in consultation processes and Sector development initiatives;
4. Improve information sharing including greater access to publicly funded research and data;
5. Reduce red tape and streamline reporting;
6. Simplify and improve consistency of financial arrangements including across state and federal jurisdictions;
7. Act to improve paid and unpaid workforce issues;
8. Improve funding and procurement processes.
‘What Works’ in youth-led organisations
The Foundation for Young Australians has launched What Works, an online resource that celebrates the work of youth-led organisations across the country and highlights best practice in running them successfully.
Dr Lucas Walsh, Director of Research at FYA, says, “This resource gives us an in-depth and national picture of what works in the youth sector. What Works will be a valuable tool for youth workers, teachers, researchers, community workers, local council members and, most importantly, for the young people they work with.”
“Now easily accessible online, this research involved hundreds of interviews and focus groups with a diverse group of people working in the youth sector. The resulting case studies paint a compelling picture of how we can build better youth-led organisations in Australia.”
A total of 36 youth-led organisations are profiled, working in community partnerships nationwide to tackle problems ranging from disengagement from school, cross-cultural conflict, substance abuse, social exclusion, boredom and vandalism through to migrant settlement, racism and Australia’s response to climate change.
The series is made up of three separate reports. Partnerships in the Youth Sector, focuses on youth organisations in collaboration with the business and legal sectors, community organisations and schools. Young People Active in Communities, investigates keeping young people involved and motivated in community service, political lobbying and social change initiatives. Inclusive Approaches with Young People, looks at helping marginalised groups of young people to reconnect with their communities.
What Works was commissioned by FYA, produced by the Australian Youth Research Centre at The University of Melbourne and compiled and edited by Fiona Taylor and Michael Kimberley.
View or download What Works here
WOW 2010 launches at Signal, Melbourne
The Worlds of Work program kicked off in Melbourne on Monday 8 February, the first of 18 week-long programs, and will continue from now until November. The program will involve students visiting three different workplaces around the CBD, networking and gaining valuable, first-hand experience in what it takes to succeed in the global world of life and work.
This year, WOW week programs in Melbourne have moved from our 2009 City Centre location in Melbourne Central, and will now run from Signal, the new youth arts and culture space developed by the City of Melbourne.
After the WOW program last year
- 86% of students felt the program expanded their sense of what is possible in terms of work and career
- 82% of students felt they gained a stronger sense of themselves
- 81% of students believed they had developed a better understanding of their strengths and skills
- Nearly 90% of students felt they better understood what it takes to succeed in the world of work as a result of the program
- 85% of students felt more confident approaching and talking with successful people
- 83% of students believed themselves more likely to use their strengths and skills to help achieve their goals
WOW will be expanding to Brisbane this year, with a pilot program running during the weeks of 19-23 April and 24-28 May.
School’s First inaugural conference
The inaugural School’s First National Conference will take place Friday 19th March 2010 at 8.30am in Melbourne. The conference will give anyone interested a chance to explore the potential of school and community partnerships. Read more
Thousands of students join Tell Us
Over four thousand young Australians have already joined Tell Us, the country’s biggest student campaign to change how the school system measures success.
Initial responses to the national Tell Us survey show that students want the Australian school system to:
• value more than just their academic achievements;
• recognise and reward a broader range of their skills and talents;
• and give them more of a say in their own education.
Overall students say that school is useful and develops important skills, but many think that what they know can’t be measured by tests or marks. Young Australians say they feel successful when they get good marks but also when they help others, get creative and build friendships.
Adam Smith, CEO at The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), says, “There are two million young Australians who can play a crucial role in making our education system better and don’t have the right to vote. The Education Revolution will only happen when the voice of young people is heard. That’s why FYA launched Tell Us, to put the views of students front and centre of this debate, take their message to decision makers, and spark a major wave of change through the Australian education system.”
“Learning is about more than just the three R’s – reading, writing and ‘rithmetic. It’s about building creativity, confidence, and getting ready for life after school. Currently the school system doesn’t measure the full range of students’ skills and talents,” he says.
Sixteen year-old Lucinda Donaldson, Year 11 student and participant in Tell Us, thinks it’s time for schools to change how they measure success.
“Things in the real world are what should define you. Not just a mark you get at school. There’s all sorts of ways that people can be successful in life, so why don’t schools treat us the same way? We should be supported and encouraged even if we’re not getting an A+ in maths. I hope students everywhere take the survey and join this movement to change our schools.”
Tell Us is open until Wednesday 30 June and aims to amplify the views of 50,000 students across the country. The project is an initiative of FYA in partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD). All Australian secondary students aged 13-19 years can take action at www.tellus.org.au. Some students will be invited to take their views straight to Julia Gillard at an event later this year.
WYPIN honoured by Premier
Earlier this month, FYA grant partner WYPIN (Western Young People’s Independent Network) was honoured at the inaugural Premier’s Community Volunteering Awards. Read more
Step Up students make an impact
Over the week of 30 November to 4 December, 30 students from secondary colleges around Victoria came together to ‘step up’. Inspired by their experiences at Cityscape with their classmates, these individuals applied for the opportunity to take their knowledge to the next level, and discover their potential for impact.
The week long camp involved a series of interactive discovery sessions, in which students challenged themselves and each other to step out of their comfort zones, and learn about the impact they have on themselves, others, and the world. The result was an emotional week that led the students, mentors and facilitators to a better understanding of their abilities and responsibilities.
Workshops included a hip-hop dance class, African drumming circle, community conversations with some of Melbourne’s most interesting and influential people, and many other creative and educational events.
The culmination of the week saw each of six mentor groups presenting their most influential moments and activities, teaching their new knowledge, and reliving the journey that took them from strangers to friends in five short days, in a final ‘Step Up Celebaloo’ for over 100 family members and friends.
Watch this space for some upcoming honest and personal responses recorded by students throughout the week.
2009 HEYWIRE Winners Announced
The 2009 winners of ABC Radio’s regional youth initiative Heywire were announced today.
Now in its twelfth year, Heywire is an online platform for creative young leaders from rural, regional and remote Australia to create, blog and share their stories. Read more
