Hannah Hammoud
Students from Overnewton Anglican Community College joined with 14 secondary schools from across Victoria to present their ideas about diversity and inclusion.
At the inaugural Victorian Youth Summit held at the University of Melbourne, students presented their ideas to politicians and community leaders.
A recent study from the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that one in three Australian teens report experiencing discrimination. Shining a light on the issue of prejudice, the summit was an opportunity for students to engage in advocacy with state leaders on diversity and inclusion.
The students were divided into breakout groups, providing them with a platform to exchange ideas from the presentations and collaborate on combined presentations which they later presented.
Overnewton Anglican Community College student Isaiah, said the summit was an insightful and engaging experience which looked at the idea of tackling racism. Students’ shared their presentation with the theme, ‘Knowledge is power’.
“The programs offered gave students the opportunities to develop new ideas and solutions on how racism can be solved,” Isaiah said.
“The environment was supportive and encouraging for students to learn and form new relationships. Overall, the Victorian Youth Summit was a proactive experience on how children can combat racism.”
The summit aimed to bring together young leaders from various schools to address important issues related to inclusiveness, kindness, and social change.
Overnewton Anglican Community College students cherished the collaborative process, as it allowed them to work closely with other peers from different schools and share their innovative ideas.
Overnewton’s synergy leadership coach leader Suzan Kasif said the summit proved to be a thought-provoking and empowering event, fostering inclusiveness and nurturing the potential of young leaders.
“The summit provided an excellent platform for our students to showcase their leadership skills and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding,” she said.
