Secondary students have gathered in Shepparton to discuss direct action they can take to help address climate change.
The students worked on and revealed their plans at the Shepparton Youth Leading the World Community Forum on Wednesday, March 8.
The forum was a collaboration of environmental charity OzGREEN, Greater Shepparton City Council, Strathbogie Shire Council and the Victorian Government.
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Notre Dame college students, Narjes Algazaly, Mohamad Alsakir and Zachary Walker. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 12
Notre Dame college students Abigael Wambugu and Batul Mgoter. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 12
Euroa secondary students, Cale Robertson, Marnie Salter, Isaac King and Mikayla Eriksson. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 12
Shepparton youth leading the world forumShepparton Youth Leading the World – Community Forum. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 12
Notre Dame college students, Narjes Algazaly, Mohamad Alsakir and Zachary Walker. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 12
Notre Dame college students, Narjes Algazaly, Mohamad Alsakir and Zachary Walker. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 12
Shepparton youth leading the world forumShepparton Youth Leading the World – Community Forum. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 12
Year 9 student from Euroa secondary college, Isaac King. Photo by Megan FisherImage 9 of 12
Notre Dame college students, Narjes Algazaly, Mohamad Alsakir and Zachary Walker. Photo by Megan FisherImage 10 of 12
Shepparton Christian college students, Isobel Elston and Gemma Tripoli. Photo by Megan FisherImage 11 of 12
Paul Dainton. Photo by Megan FisherImage 12 of 12
Shepparton youth leading the world forumShepparton Youth Leading the World – Community Forum. Photo by Megan FisherStudents from the Goulburn Valley worked together to create a vision for their future and the future of the region, and to develop action plans for their schools.
The forum also included contributions from representatives from local government, business, education and environmental and climate experts.
Program manager for OzGREEN in Victoria Ali Thwaites said the contributions from the students were impressive.
“Like anywhere, but especially here in Shepparton, [they are] an incredibly motivated and skilled group of young people who see the problems in their community and have ideas about what they want to do about it,” Ms Thwaites said.
Year 9 students from Notre Dame College in Shepparton developed plans for a herb and sustainability garden at their school over the three days as their action plan.
One of those students, Mohamad Alsakir, said his concerns about climate change were on an international scale.
“I am worried for my family because of the heat, because a lot of my family lives in Iraq, which is already a very hot area, and it might get hotter and harder for them,” he said.
Shepparton Christian College student Cara Pearce said she enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate with students from other schools.
“We’ve been able to think about what we can do back at our own school to help the environment and help other students, and we’ve been able to talk to students from other schools. It’s been very interesting,” she said.
Greater Shepparton City Council team leader sustainability and environment Paul Dainton said getting feedback from the region’s youth was part of the council’s climate change response.
“Our actual declaration of the climate emergency in 2020 came about after pressure from the youth of Greater Shepparton for council to do something about climate change in our region,” he said.
“So this is just an evolution of that process with the youth, involving them in actions for the community.”