Global Youth Impact

Australia

Funding source: IWDA supporters and AusAID – ANCP

Issue: Global Youth Impact (GYI) is a leadership development program for ambitious and resourceful young Australian women in Years 10 and 11. The project addresses the lack of leadership initiatives targeted at young women and seeks to develop the perspectives and skills needed by future thinkers and leaders in a local, national and global context, while developing young women’s knowledge of social justice issues – all with an emphasis on gender equality.

Outline: A two-night introductory camp strengthened participants’ knowledge of issues surrounding diversity, identity, inequality, power and gender relations. A subsequent leadership workshop focused on equipping them with advocacy, networking, fundraising, event planning, communications and conflict resolution skills.

Impact: The acquisition of practical skills enabled participants to develop a Social Justice Action Plan (with the support of a mentor) and gain practical experience in designing and planning an activity in their school or community. Implementing the plan consolidated newly-acquired skills and demonstrated their potential for achieving tangible, positive goals. Feedback from participants, parents and teachers confirmed the transformative impact of the program on participants’ sense of self and purpose and the influence they were able to experience in a community setting.

Her Story: Tess Farmer

“I wanted to make a change in the world, but it didn’t seem possible for one 16 year old to make a change. I had the passion and determination, but not the knowledge and support. I was also incredibly shy, didn’t have the confidence to tell people about my passion.

As a result of Global Youth Impact, my passion and determination has reached an incredible level. I feel so empowered. I CAN make a change in the world, and I now have the knowledge, skills and support to do it. I can’t wait to see what I can achieve! This program has also made me a lot more confident. Spending so much time with these girls has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Just knowing that there are 19 passionate girls ready to support me in any plans I have is the best feeling ever.”

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