Sir John Monash Young Leader Award Winners 2024
Published on 13 November 2024
Isabella and Ryan meet weekly to discuss and plan sustainability initiatives at school. Thanks to their creative ideas, positive change has taken place – they initiated a Clean-Up day where everyone helps to clean the yard after a Twilight Picnic Night. They also produced a video highlighting waste issues in the yard, as a result, rubbish and lost property in the school yard decreased by 70 to 80%.
An impressive contribution from two young people in grades 4 and 6!
What inspired you both to develop and deliver environmental projects in your community?
This sparked a conversation about how we could improve our environment, leading us to decide to come to school early in the morning to pick up litter. When teachers saw us, they praised our efforts. This reinforced our belief that we were making a positive change. The school grounds looked much cleaner and more beautiful, creating a healthier environment for everyone to enjoy and learn in.
After being appointed as JEM Captain and JEM Representative in the Joint Environmental Mission (JEM) Team, we looked out resources online from various organizations, including the council, Sustainability Victoria, and ResourceSmart Schools. We learned about sustainability initiatives, gathered stories from other schools, and discussed our ideas with the JEM coordinator to develop actionable plans. To gain further inspiration, we participated in a tour of the Monash Waste and Recycling Centre and visited schools in the neighbourhood, including the RSS Awards winners, Eastwood PS and Mount Waverley PS. These experiences helped us gather valuable ideas and strategies to enhance sustainability at our own school.
What does winning the Young Leader Award mean to you both?
Winning the Young Leader Award is incredibly encouraging, and we feel so proud of our achievements. We want to thank Monash Council for recognising the hard work and contributions of young people to the community. We hope to share our story with our peers and other young people, showing that we can all make a positive impact on our environment. Our small actions can lead to significant change when we tackle challenges in creative and innovative ways. Together, we can inspire change and contribute to a more sustainable future!