Hobart City Council Australia Day
2012 Community Event of the Year
The inaugural Fairer World Festival in 2011 showcased the power of young Tasmanians to make a difference in the world.
"It is wonderful to see young people being encouraged to actively contribute to their local
community and to also increase their level of awareness of global issues and to explore ways they can make a contribution at that level. I congratulate all those who participated in and organised
the Fairer World Festival. I also encourage honourable members to support the Tasmanian Global
Centre for Learning in its important work."
Dr Vanessa Goodwin MLC, speech to Legislative Council (Hansard 7/7/2011)
Nearly 1400 students from 52 schools across Tasmania attended one of the
Festival's four days
in Hobart and Launceston. As well as inspiring students to be a driving force for change in their local and
global communities, the Festival offered teachers an opportunity to explore new ways to incorporate responsible citizenship programs into their classrooms.
The Festival is the brainchild of the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning. It grew out of six years experience
in running the Tasmanian Youth Action Conferences
and a partnership with the
Justice Action
Network which developed and ran four Justice Action Days. Both
organisations saw the benefit of pooling resources and experience.
The
theme of the 2011 Festival was the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals. These 8 goals provide a global action plan for a more just and sustainable future and formed the foundation of the students exploration of a range of issues including animal rights, fair trade,
environmental sustainability, global poverty and refugees.
Each afternoon a MAD Expo provided schools and community groups with an opportunity to showcase their community action projects. “
It’s fantastic to see so many activities and very good projects from different schools and groups. Well done!” enthused Helen Burnet, Deputy Lord Mayor
of Hobart.
“
It was a great chance to talk to other schools and see how they are making a difference,” said Taylah Armstrong from Geilston Bay High School.
48 presenters and assistants from 17 local, national and global community organisations helped our MAD team create and deliver the first ever Fairer World Festival.
“
A truly incredible part of the Festival was the melting pot - of community change-makers, youth leaders and students
- that simmered with ideas and inspiration. An indelible imprint was left on everyone who participated,” Leah Page, Festival Officer.
The Festival would not have been possible without the enormous volunteer contribution from the many community organisations
that worked with us and the generosity of our
sponsors. We are very grateful to everyone who helped realise this important event.
What teachers said
“
The Fairer World Festival was a great opportunity for students to learn about their world and the issues facing it today and into the future. Our students have explored a range of issues through the ruMAD? Program and
are now working towards holding a concert in support of the Firefly Children’s Home in Nepal.”
Olivia Stevens, Rokeby High School teacher
“
The Festival was a fantastic opportunity for our students to share ideas and get recognition for the work they’ve been doing on disability. Every year our students choose a different social or environmental issue and we use the ruMAD? Program to help guide them through a process of learning and taking action. We’ve found ruMAD? to be a powerful tool for learning critical thinking skills and the Festival gives them the opportunity to share this learning with others.”
Peg Smith, Trevallyn Primary School teacher
“
To see concern, smiles and concentration on students' faces, all during the one workshop is invaluable. A highly engaging, rewarding, empowering experience for all students who attended. Take your class!”
Petrina Randazzo, Gagebrook Primary School teacher
“
Positive and thought provoking for children.”
Teacher, Penguin Primary School
What students said
“It was the most inspiring day I’ve ever had, and as soon as I got home I started creating my own little blog about making a difference! I wish I could have the same experience every day!” Dan, age 13, St Aloysius College
“The day was packed with fun! Everything was great! It was super dooper awesome! I would definitely recommend it to my friends!” Sophie,
Grade 6, Riverside Primary School
“I learnt that you can buy fair trade soccer balls. I learnt that islands are getting smaller because the water is rising and how we can help.” Grade 6 student, Riverside Primary School
“I learnt a lot about poverty and [it] has shown me that anybody can make a change.” Grade 5
student, East Devonport Primary School
“I would really like to help make our world a fairer world, to help stop racism and pollution in our world that would be great. It would be really good to have a fair world where everyone can just be friends and I will try really hard from now on to make our world a fairer world!” Urshla,
Grade 6, Montagu Bay Primary School
“What I want to do now (and is in progress with my school) is a walking bus and a school compost bin. I am also doing a project on Japanese whaling.” Claudia,
Grade 4, St Michael’s Collegiate
“The whole day was an incredible experience. I left feeling a lot more competent in my self.” Esther,
Grade 6, The Cottage School
“All up the day was great and now I know that even small changes can make the world a better place.” Grade 6 student, The Cottage School
“This festival was great! I hope there will be one next year. I learnt so much. Thank you for an AWESOME festival!” Elisha, primary school student
“[The] Fairer World Festival was a great learning experience! It showed us the issues with our society and how to fix them! I learnt that it is the little things that make a big difference and you are also never too young to make a difference!” Sharni, Grade 8, Ogilvie High School
“My impression of the day was that I can make a difference in my community and in the world and that we aren't too young to make a difference.” Megan, Grade 9, Rose Bay High School
“It showed me what it was like in some places, now I know about fair trade chocolate and clothes and it made me so determined to make a change, even if it's only little.” Holly, Grade 7, St Aloysius Catholic College
“It was very awesome!! I learned a lot! It really changed what I thought about the world.” Emily, Grade 7, Geilston Bay High School
“What I learnt was amazing. I now know that ending poverty is crucial, and that life isn't just about getting what you want for Christmas, it’s about helping others. If we can help by just picking up a bit of rubbish on the way to the bin, we can help more. We need to change our mindset and those around us, change so that we have pictures in the paper of the acts of kindness that teenagers have committed and not stories of violence. I want to do it, I want to do anything to help even if it means dancing the MDG in the mall with bright yellow stockings and a pink and green polka dot hat. Thank you for this experience and this revelation.” Casey, Grade 9, Tarremah Steiner
School
“I walked away from the day, knowing so much more about the world. I would recommend it to anyone.” Hayley, Grade 9, Sheffield High School
“The day was very interesting I learnt that everyone can make a change big or small and that you should never give up when even if everyone else think you can’t do it.” Brianna, Grade 9, Sheffield High School
“A truly amazing learning experience pushed into 1 day.” Kyle, Grade 8, Wynyard High School
“Best Day ever :) I learnt new things about our world that I never knew :) it was an AMAZING experience :) ‘it's not your condition it's your decision’. Anyone would be lucky to attend the next Fairer World Festival!!” Teegan, Grade 8, Wynyard High School
Keynote speakers
Tim Kenworthy Hobart, June 29 & 30
2009 Young Social Pioneer, Tim Kenworthy, is one of a growing number of youth change-makers. At 22 he has already established a highly successful volunteer organisation,
Youth Tree, a youth-run non-profit organisation based in Perth, which uses creativity and fun to engage young people in volunteering for a cause they care about.
Tim said of the Festival, "
It was ridiculously cool to spend time with so many people truly dedicated to making the world better. There's something really special going on in Tasmania."
This is what students said about Tim after the Festival:
"I particularly loved the part about his best friends exclusive club. I found the speech really inspiring and I hope Tim Kenworthy will go on to many other schools and inspire more people. I really learnt a heap from his talk and I have redoubled my input into co-running my schools Little V-gen group. Thank you!
I loved it."
"It was funny and serious, I left wanting to do something to change what is going on in the world."
"Tim was so good. He taught us about what he does in a fun and exciting way. He made us open our eyes to the world and no matter how young we are we can make a difference."
"I thought that he was a really good speaker and with his inter-active approach he managed to interest every single person in the room and inspire them to take action."
Sam Cawthorn Launceston,
July 4 & 5
Sam, 2009 Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year, inspired Launceston students to quit making excuses and take action. Students connected powerfully to Sam’s story of overcoming a serious accident and disability and his message;
“It’s not your condition it’s your decision.”
Sam’s powerful message challenges people to be truly who they are and to believe in all that they have to give. He helps people build the skills needed to be resilient, overcome fears and achieve what they thought was unachievable.
This is what students said about Sam after the Festival:
“I am so inspired by Sam Cawthorn, the strength and courage he has shown throughout the years since his accident is absolutely outstanding! Best part of the day.” Grade 9 student, Sheffield High School
“It was an amazing presentation that brought a tear to my eye. He is so inspirational and makes you think about things in different ways like don’t take life for granted. I will always remember his saying - It’s not your condition it’s your decision.” Grade 8 student, Wynyard High School
“Sam Cawthorn is a massive inspiration, I will now never take things for granted, it was truly AMAZING ! I also shared this experience with my school (talking about it
at our school assembly).” Grade 8 student, Wynyard High
“Sam was an excellent motivational speaker, he was funny, interesting and at one point I almost cried! Loved him!” Grade 9
homeschool student
“He inspired every one of us...we are going to invite him to visit our school so the whole school community can share the experience!” Teacher, Wynyard High School
Workshop presentations
Amnesty International Australia Changing the
Conversation - Rethink Refugees
Presenters: Daniel Scaysbrook (Amnesty International Australia Youth Leader) and volunteers Jenna
Mercer, Olivia Ridley and Rowena Ebsworth
Amnesty International Australia is part of the
global human rights movement defending human rights and dignity. They work with
people in Australia and in our region to demand respect for human rights and
protect people facing abuse. To do this they mobilise people, campaign, conduct
research and raise money to promote a culture where
human rights are embraced, valued and protected.
At the Festival,
Amnesty International Australia Youth Leader, Dan Scaysbrook, and a team of volunteers
delivered an interactive workshop busting the myths around asylum seekers and
refugees who arrive by boat. Students traced the journey of one person who
arrived by boat to seek asylum in Australia and reflected on this journey.
Students learnt facts to encourage them to critically evaluate the current media
debate around asylum seekers.
Brightside Farm Sanctuary Animal Rights
Presenters: Emma Haswell (founder of Brightside) and volunteer
Oliver Lovell.
Brightside Farm Sanctuary is a place in the sun for rescued farm
animals. The animals at Brightside are ambassadors for their kind, showing
people the true face of farm animals and how wonderful they are.
Emma Haswell
has given presentations at more than 60 schools to over 8000 students and is
available for educational talks to both primary and secondary students and
groups outside schools. She does this with help from one of the sanctuary’s
rescued pigs. Her aim is to raise the level of awareness regarding the suffering
that factory farmed animals endure.
No-one ever comes away from these sessions unmoved! At the Festival Emma presented information on the treatment of companion and farm animals and how animal welfare laws fail to protect them.
Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative, Tasmania (AuSSI-TAS) Sustainability with Savvy Science
Presenters: Jenny Dudgeon and Jayne Lewis (AuSSI-Tas Project
Officers) and Margaret Steadman (Sustainable Schools
Support Service Project Officer, Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning )
The Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative
(AuSSI) provides practical support to schools and their communities to live and
work more sustainably. It fosters a whole school approach to change for
sustainability with measurable environmental, educational, social and financial
outcomes. AuSSI is a partnership of the Australian Government, all state and
territory governments and the Catholic and Independent school sectors.
At the
Festival students learned about energy consumption and used the Home Energy Audit
Toolkit
(HEAT) to determine the power usage of a number of different appliances. Students explored sustainability issues and ways to take action to reduce energy consumption
in their homes and schools.
Global Poverty Project Youth Against Poverty
Presenters: Jeremy Picone, Jo Thompson and Marita Young
The Global Poverty Project
is an organisation that educates and inspires youth to take action on extreme
poverty and equips them with the tools and information (organisations, resources
etc) that enable them to take that action to see a world without extreme poverty
in a generation.
Students experienced a presentation about extreme poverty and
the perceived barriers to ending extreme poverty. What is extreme poverty? Can
we do anything about it? What is stopping us from ending extreme poverty? Why
should we care? What can you do to end extreme poverty? A showcase of actions
other young people have taken after seeing the GPP presentation inspired
students to take action themselves.
The Oaktree Foundation (Tasmania) Unconvention – 60 minute Make-A-Difference
Presenters: Andrew Millhouse, Robert Hortle, and Maddy Pillans
The Oaktree Foundation is Australia’s
first and largest entirely youth run aid and development agency. Their mission
is young people working together to end global poverty. Recently the Oaktree Foundation ran Australia’s largest youth action of its kind, the MAKE POVERTY HISTORY Road Trip 2010.
Oaktree Tas is just new, but is already
taking Tasmania by storm! "The Fairer World Festival was a fantastic opportunity
to get students thinking about extreme poverty. Students in our workshops loved
the chance to get creative and put together their own ‘flash mob’! The
Festival is so important to the education of young Tasmanians and their development as
global citizens, and on top of that, students enjoy the chance to get active and
do something real to make change." Rob Hortle, Tasmanian Director of
The Oaktree
Foundation
The Oaktree Foundation workshop explored the unconventional actions people have taken towards the eradication of extreme poverty. Students experienced a fun and inspiring session that encouraged them to think innovatively about social justice issues and about how they can make an immediate difference.
Oxfam Australia Climate Change – the Bigger Picture
Presenters: Ros Lewis (State Coordinator) and Rebecca Livermore
(Tasmanian Campaigns Coordinator) with volunteers Celeste Burke, Ramon Gollett
and Bec Denniss
Oxfam Australia is part of a global movement of dedicated people working
hard to fight poverty and injustice. They raise funds to support self-help
projects and campaign for fairer conditions. They campaign on climate change
because it is affecting the world’s poorest people most severely.
Students
in the Oxfam workshop had the opportunity to extend their understanding of climate change through real life examples of climate change impacts on communities from around the world. Students also learned about how people in some of these communities are helping themselves.
Students were encouraged to contribute
3 Things to change the
world.
Australian Red Cross
“It was very rewarding to see so many community
organisations working together to inspire and engage young people and for Red
Cross to be a part of such an important event.” Lauren Townsend, Regional
Coordinator for Youth, Families & Communities, Tasmania,
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross works with the most vulnerable people and communities in Australia and internationally. In addition, the Australian Red Cross is committed to tackling four significant global issues of the 21st century:
- climate change
- youth engagement
- cultural diversity
- gender
A team of youth leaders and volunteers from Australian Red Cross ran a series of hands-on workshops at the Festival exploring issues of food security, youth mental health and war.
Workshop 1: A Recipe for Hunger - Food Security
Presenters: Rebecca Urie (Food Security Project Officer), Lauren Townsend
(Regional Coordinator, Youth, Families & Communities), Jasmine Dunn (Regional Coordinator, Youth, Families & Communities Officer) and volunteer Sarena Nisbet.
Students explored why a fair world means that everybody has enough to
eat; and whether there are still hungry people in the world and where they live.
Students explored why this might be: What is the recipe for hunger? Students
were challenged to look at what they can do in their own school or community to
make a difference.
Workshop 2: Don’t Push my Buttons!
Presenters: Talisa Reed (Regional Coordinator, Youth Health &
Wellbeing), Linda Richardson
(Regional Coordinator, Youth, Families & Communities) and volunteers Carla Johnson
and Jo Thompson
The Australian Red Cross takes Talk Out Loud workshops to events where young people gather
in order to raise awareness of mental health issues and to deliver harm minimisation and health promotion information. At the
Fairer World Festival, students learnt how to manage emotions and how to avoid
feeling overwhelmed. They discovered practical ways to support and seek help for
themselves and others through an interactive journey of the ITALK model.
Workshop 3: Even Wars Have Laws
Presenters: Madeline Summers (International Humanitarian Law
Officer) and volunteers Imogen Wegman, Michael Simmons and Jade Mitchell
This workshop examined the plight of children in war, the
many different ways that children experience war (including child soldiers,
family separation, and weapons such as landmines and cluster munitions) and
the rules that protect children in war.
Vision Generation Tasmania Youth Leadership for Poverty
Presenters: Amy Fogarty (State Director), Tarryn Watson, Katelyn Davey,
Grace McCallum
and Liv Sindorff
Vision Generation is the youth movement of World Vision Australia. Their mission
is to ‘Inspire, educate, and empower young people in the fight against global
poverty and injustice’. They operate as small focused groups based in schools and
communities, with a ‘think global, act local’ approach to all of World Vision’s
campaigns and beyond.
The Festival was an opportunity for Vision Generation youth leaders to
take students on an emotional journey of how it feels to live in poverty.
By the end of the workshop students felt inspired to act against poverty.
Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania
(SCAT) & Cradle Coast NRM
Create a Beach
Presenters: Tessa McDonald (Coastcare Community Capacity Building
Officer), Anna Wind (Team Leader, Cradle Coast NRM), Jill Pearson (Coastal
Coordinator, NRM South), Jenn Lavers (Zoologist, Tasmanian Museum & Art
Gallery) and volunteer Karina Rose.
The Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania (SCAT) is the peak volunteer support organisation for Coastcare volunteers in southern Tasmania. SCAT supports community coastal action and raises awareness about coastal issues.
In north-west Tasmania,
Cradle Coast NRM is the natural resource management division of the Cradle Coast Authority. Cradle Coast NRM
actively assists communities in north-west Tasmania to manage and improve
their natural resources to ensure a healthy future for the region.
Students created a model of a beach and then together introduced a range of impacts and threats such as weeds, litter, pollution and feral animals. Students discussed the impacts of each introduction and
watched the degradation of the model environment they had created. Students then worked together to come up with strategies to remove or reduce the threats, and in the process restore and rehabilitate the coastal environment they have created.
Students Against Racism Culture Club
Presenters: Gini Ennals (EAL Teacher, Hobart College), Nene Manasseh
(Living in Between Project Officer, Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning)
and Jima Wech (Students Against Racism leader)
Hobart
College Students Against Racism is a group of students who came to Australia
as refugees and migrants from a diversity of countries and personal
circumstances. Together with their teacher they have developed a powerful presentation that explains why they left their homelands, the journey that brought them here and their lives now. The presentation aims to address
racism which they feel comes from a lack of understanding about asylum seekers, refugees and migrants.
Workshop participants learned about cultural differences and
similarities. Students had conversations about language, clothes, food,
religion, traditions and backgrounds. Hobart College students who have migrated
from other countries used personal items that they brought with them from their
homelands to tell stories and discuss why they are important. Students also had
a lot of fun doing African singing and dancing together.
Justice Action Network & Environment Protection Authority
(EPA) Division Tasmania
Postcards against plastic
Presenters: Bridget Jenkins (teacher, St Virgil's College), Maree Bakker
(Sustainable Communities Officer, EPA)
The
Justice Action Network
brings together Tasmanian students and teachers who care about social justice issues.
The Environment Protection Authority Division is the Tasmanian Government division that supports the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in monitoring and regulating environmental performance and providing the community with information about the quality of the environment.
These two diverse organisations came together at the Festival to
deliver a powerful workshop about taking action against litter pollution.
In Postcards Against Plastic students learned about the devastation caused by rubbish, litter and plastic in
our environment, particularly to waterways and the creatures it affects. They
explored sources of plastic packaging and how the choices they make can
minimise the production of plastic waste. Students designed and illustrated a
postcard and wrote messages to the businesses, organisations and manufacturers
that they identified as playing a significant role in the production of plastic
waste. The postcards have been posted and the students are hoping to hear back
from these organisations about changes they may implement in response to the
students messages.
Youth Network of Tasmania (YNoT) Youth Forum
Presenters: Naomi Marsh
(TYF Project Officer, YNoT) and volunteer Chloe Turner.
The Youth
Network of Tasmania (YNoT) is the peak organisation for youth consultation in Tasmania. At the
Festival, students worked through a mini forum to experience how involvement with
the Tasmanian
Youth Forum can provide great opportunities for young Tasmanians to have a say on
the issues that are important to them.
Caritas Australia Billy, Bono &
Me
Presenters: Mary Anne Collins (Global Education Advisor, Caritas) and volunteers Tony Brennan and Mick Hortle
Caritas Australia is the Catholic agency for international aid and development.
The Latin word Caritas means love and compassion, qualities central to Caritas' work.
They help people to help themselves, regardless of race, political beliefs, gender
or religion. Caritas Australia works hard to make sure that as much aid as
possible actually reaches those who need it. Caritas Australia has education and
advocacy programs within Australia, working to help Australians become aware of
the causes of injustice and poverty and encouraging people to take action. They
take up these issues in recognition of the structural impediments to people
breaking free from the cycle of poverty.
At this workshop students participated
in an interactive activity demonstrating the distribution of the world’s wealth.
Students came to the realisation that they have the
resources, the power and the responsibility to act for change.
Go Fair Go Fair!
Fair trade and buying ethically
Presenters: Laura Sykes and volunteers Tegan Lumsden and Lizzie Park.
Go Fair aims to empower, advocate and
educate our local community about human trafficking, labour and ethical
consumerism and encourage the support and purchase of fair trade products. At
the Festival students learnt about the system of fair trade, why it is important
and the contribution it makes to improving the lives of people in developing
countries. They explored ways of taking action in local schools and communities.
“Giving students concrete ways of taking action is essential for keeping them
engaged and passionate about important issues. It was incredible for Go Fair to
be part of this amazing event, educating students about global issues and
empowering them to realise their potential as change-makers. It was inspiring to
find that so many students were passionate about fair trade. It’s really
encouraging to know that we can make a difference by educating young people to
help create a fairer world.” Laura Sykes, fair trade advocate, Go Fair
Climate Action Hobart Climate Change and Youth
Action
Presenters: Zakk Goodsell
Climate Action Hobart is a volunteer, grassroots climate action group
formed to promote community involvement in achieving strong climate policy and
action in Tasmania. This session at the Festival empowered and motivated students to take real,
tangible action and to speak up in defence of their future. Students were
introduced to the work of Climate Action Hobart and what other young people are
doing to take action for climate change. Students learnt the basics of climate
issues and brainstormed what they can do in their own communities, homes and
schools to lead their own lives more sustainably.
To find out more about
the Fairer World Festival contact:
Tasmanian Centre for Global
Learning
4 Battery Square, Battery Point, 7004
Ph 03 6223 1025 or 0400
824 261
Email
admin@afairerworld.org
