Young Leaders for Change at Seaford Primary School

Young Leaders for Change is a program engaging young people to become ‘Change Agents’ and to understand their ability to enact positive change in their community. With the support of the Peninsula Kingswood Charitable Foundation, Family Life facilitated the running of the Young Leaders for Change program at Seaford Primary School. Ten students from Seaford Primary School participated in the program, starting in Term 4 2023 and into Term 1 & 2 of 2024

The students were taken through 8 weekly sessions where they were encouraged to:

• map their social and school community. consider the issues that mattered to them, their peers and their community.
• develop solutions to real local issues; and
• share their story.

While the students participating were passionate to address the concern that they do not have a school canteen, they went through a process which identified the limitations around being able to set one up. Pivoting on this need, they considered alternative drivers, one being their strong school cultural desire to honour and help animals, which is a core value of the school. After some planning sessions with Family Life in Term 1 2024, the Young Leaders for Change students decided they wanted to arrange a fundraiser at their school. After considering all their ideas and options they agreed to organise a ‘Pancake Playlunch’ for school students with the hope to raise money toward a wreath for ANZAC day at their local Seaford RSL in honour of the War Animals. The students worked through the logistics, roles and responsibilities together.

The Pancake Playlunch ran on Thursday 18th April. The group served 450 pancakes to students and teachers. Four Young Leaders for Change participants ran the ‘Pancake Playlunch’ with four parents, two Seaford Primary School staff, Family Life also attended the event and assisted with the cooking and supported the students.

The school was invited (but not obliged) to make a gold coin donation which raised just over $200.00 these funds were then used to pay for a purple wreath to be laid at the Seaford RSL to honour the War Animals on ANZAC Day.

Having the Young Leaders for Change students, parents and school staff working together on the project has enhanced the sense of community within the school. The Young Leaders for Change program has provided the students with skills development as well as the confidence to raise what is important to them. The project has been a positive experience for the whole school community, and the group of participants intends to continue their work supporting the school community.

The group is planning to do a food-based event each term, in the same style, with the long- term aim of fundraising for things identified to improve the schoolyard for student use. The Young Leaders for Change students hope to run a sausage sizzle for their next event, in Term 3.