EVERY community needs leaders was the message to students at the region’s second Student Leaders Congress.
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The brainchild of Woolsthorpe Primary School principal Simon Perry and Woodford Primary School principal Daniel Watson, the event brought 28 government schools together at Deakin University for a day of leadership development.
Following last year’s event, which led to a fund-raising total of $27,000 for Peter’s Project, this year’s goal is for each school to create a project to raise money for a cause in their community.
Mr Perry said the congress speakers, including Sydney-based learning strategist Simon Breakspear, Warrnambool mayor Mike Neoh, Moyne Shire mayor Colin Ryan, and members of the Moyne Shire and Warrnambool City youth councils, each gave presentations challenging the students’ views of community leadership.
“The concept is getting the kids to think differently about what it means to be a community leader, thinking about issues and problems in their local community, and ... how to go back and solve them,” he said.
“We’ve got kids from every single school in the local area — they’ll go back out and work with their local people and to find some issues and some ideas to implement.
“What they’ve learnt today is how to come up with a question and a problem.
“We want to provoke some thoughts about hard work.”
Mr Perry said that after brainstorming workshops yesterday afternoon, the students returned to their schools and learnt through linking with local services, foundations and community members to develop and plan projects to aid their community.
In July, the students will reunite at the Lighthouse Theatre to present their project and outcomes with a three-minute documentary.
“This is getting them to think very early on, from grade 5, what it is to be a community leader,” Mr Perry said.
“Anyone can be a leader in their community ... It’s about young people making a difference. As adults, sometimes we can’t make a difference because we’re too stuck in our old ways.”
The event was free of charge for all schools, thanks to a partnership between the Department of Education, Warrnambool City and Moyne Shire councils, Deakin University and South West LLEN.