Graduate Projects

Motivational Youth Forum: 2006

Project:
Organise a forum for young people to inspire them to reach their potential

Project Leader:
Colleen Sim, community member, Cobram, Victoria.

Aim:
Provide a Forum for young people to come together prior to final exams to hear inspirational speakers in their own community.

Background:
Young people experience high levels of stress prior to final exams at secondary college and it was believed that additional support and motivation within their own community would be of value.

Process:
Identified the interest in a Forum by talking with young people, teachers, sporting clubs and the general community.

Identified possible speakers, including AFL footballers, coaches, and Olympians.
Established the cost of conducting such a Forum.

Approached local service clubs for donations, explored other funding bodies, such as Philanthropic Trusts, Government and businesses.

Negotiated a lower fee from the preferred speaker - $6,000 to $2,000.

Challenges: 
Taking the risk to organise a public event.

Identifying potential funding sources and finding the courage to approach them for funding.

Promoting the event to ensure it was well supported.

Using networks to spread the word.

Outcomes:
A Forum with 280 young people and adults attending in a small rural community of 4,554 people.

Young people inspired by Lauren Burn, Tae Kwon Do Gold Medallist in the 2000

Olympics and Anthony Stevens, Australian Footballer.