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Collective Imagining

FYA’s Collective Imagining project is imagining a powerful vision for 2050.

SHR

Why Collective Imagining?

Right now we are existing in someone else’s vision. 

Our communities are bearing the brunt of an economic and political system that puts profit above people and the planet. For most of us, the intersecting housing, mental health, inequality, and climate crises are impossible to ignore.

But the systems that shape our lives are ours to create, and ours to change. It’s time for us to dream up something better, and collectively paint a picture of the future we want. 

That’s where Collective Imagining comes in – bringing together 50 dreamers between 16-25 years old to co-create a bold, aspirational vision for 2050,  to use the power of movements to turn that dream into reality.

What happened at Collective Imagining?

Collective Imagining kicked off with our first gathering on Friday 27 May – Sunday 29 May 2022 where participants were split into two groups to learn key skills in imagining the future through speculative fiction, poetry and storytelling. The dreamers who attended that gathering designed and coordinated their own Collective Imagining events with other young people in the months after. Each young person was provided with a small grant of $500 as well as coaching and support to host their own workshops. On Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 December we held our second gathering and welcomed additional dreamers to help weave our vision and strategy for a new future together.

Early 2023 we ran workshops, webinars and surveys to reach a total of 650 young people to back the Dreamers to mobilise and organise their movement to win campaigns for change. With the insights Dreamers have gathered over the course of 12-months, their collective vision has been launched through a Zine called, ‘Looking to the Skies: A Constellation of Dreams from Collective Imagining.’

Download the zine

Frequently asked questions

What was the Vision for 2050 Survey and who won the draw?

In February and March of 2023, we ran a Vision for 2050 Survey to gather experiences, ideas and insights from young people across the country. We invited young people to share their thoughts on the kind of future they envisioned, and entered them into a draw to win a $250 gift voucher and a $250 donation to a youth-led organization of their choice. We are pleased to announce that S Choudhary from postcode 5064 won the draw and thank all who participated on their contribution to shaping a better future for all.

Tell me more about what was involved in the program.

Collective Imagining is inspired by ActionStation Aotearoa. Dreamers learnt from poets, activists and movement builders to:

  • Learn about how movements get started and succeed: from Black Lives Matter and LandBack to the School Strikes 4 Climate campaigns
  • Understand what power is, who has it and how to build it (*Hint: power is key to successful movements)
  • Tap into your imagination to create a vision with other young people
  • Develop your facilitation skills and host your own event or workshop with other young people (we’ll give you the $ to make this happen)
  • Build your skills in campaign planning and organising – to turn that vision into a reality.

 

Who were the trainers and mentors for Collective Imagining?

The lead facilitators of the first gathering were Larrakia poet and facilitator Laniyuk and FYA’s Executive Director of Movement Building, Laura O’Connell Rapira.

Other Collective Imagining coaches include:

How were participants chosen for Collective Imagining?

A selection panel made up of FYA staff were responsible for reviewing all of the applications.

We are especially interested in working with young people with diverse lived experiences of systemic injustice e.g. First Nations, migrants of colour and refugees, disabled, LGBTQIA+, young parents, young people who live in rural and regional areas, young people with lived experience of the justice system, foster care or mental health system as well as folks who come from low-income backgrounds.

How was the program funded?

The Body Shop has generously donated to this project. The money they’ve gifted will be used to deliver grants and provide travel and training scholarships  to dreamers. Donkeywheel Trust has also given money to this project for the purposes of understanding how we can facilitate important conversations about the future at scale.