Over 20 students from across seven Indigo Primary Schools have developed their leadership skills over the past seven weeks, as part of the Indigo Shire 2020 Youth Ambassador program.
Now in its third year, the Youth Ambassador Program, like many other programs in 2020, had to adapt to the current environment and was facilitated entirely online.
The new program was developed and facilitated by the Director of The Mandala Project, Anthony Nicholson in partnership with Indigo Shire Council.
Running for three hours every Monday, the sessions involved developing a combination of skills such as project management, leadership, thinking outside of the box, emotional intelligence, values and public speaking, in addition to weekly guest speakers.
Guest speakers included:
- Para Olympian Eliza Ault-Connell shared her personal journey of resilience, fortitude and strength overcoming obstacles and the three A's – Attitude, Adaptation and Authenticity.
- Community Development Worker Tracey Farrant delivered a session on project management.
- Bendigo for Youth Homeless founder Luke Owens shared his incredible fundraising story.
- Angela Larkin from Toastmasters gave some helpful tips on public speaking.
- Humankind Enterprises founder Sophie Weldon shared her personal story in addition to the importance of story-telling for human connection.
- Peter Sacco from the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (A.C.R.E) provided information on the work A.C.R.E does and on social enterprise.
- Yackandandah business woman Suzanne McIntosh shared her story of growing up in a small town, moving away and then returning to start her own business.
The program concluded with participants presenting to Indigo Shire Councillors, The Aturao Island Frisndship Committee and community members on each of the areas covered over the seven weeks and what they had learned from the program.
In addition, the students presented the outcome of their fundraising initiatives they coordinated within their schools, a phenomenal grand total of $2400 was raised with half the funds being donated to The Atauro Island Friendship Committee.
