By Deanne Jeffers
YOUNG people are the most affected by the crises facing our world. They are also the ones with the most innovative ideas and energy to build a better world. With this in mind, 40 students from three local secondary schools put their minds together to generate transformative innovative ideas.
Across two-days last week, Year 9 students from St Anne’s College, Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) and Goulburn Valley Grammar College (GVGC) participated in Crazy Ideas College’s (CIC) ‘Social Innovator’ program, a workshop designed to equip young people with the skills and confidence to invent services, programs and products that enrich lives within the community.
‘Farm for a Day’, designed by students at St Anne’s College and GSSC seeks to give local young people experience on a farm, to teach understanding of farming processes and to encourage young people to think about the work that goes into growing food for consumption.
Other projects were That’s Mental, a board game teaching about mental wellness; Lil Energy, toys to teach about renewable energy; A Bloody Good Box, ensuring access to period products; Sparring Co., to get kids to be more active; Pressure Pal, reducing stress; Sniff Menus, making dining more accessible for neurodivergent people; Extra Parent Program, providing youths from dysfunctional families with mentors and a safe space without foster care; Healthy Bargain, making fresh food more accessible; and Learn to Earn, addressing low levels of aspiration and confidence in students, particularly after the COVID pandemic.
Initiating partner, Greater Shepparton City Council, and supporting partners Greater Shepparton Foundation and La Trobe University, teamed up with CIC to provide the workshop. Further, students got to pitch their ideas to local organisations and businesses and get feedback in real time
All ideas will now be showcased on CICBeyond (https://cicbeyond.com) – an online platform to share, celebrate and connect these ideas with the community.
