The Cheltonian

Year 9 -                               

Be Your Own Boss Program

Cheltenham Secondary College - October 2021

Young Change Agents' social entrepreneurship programs help youth to see problems as opportunities. At this virtual program we had around 29 students from Year 9 at Cheltenham Secondary College participate remotely. Students created community maps, defined problems in their communities, worked in teams to ideate, validate and prototype solutions, and then pitched their ideas to a panel. The students came up with seven creative ideas.

Community Problems Identified

Students discussed what community meant to them and worked to identify problems and create solutions. Some of the problems discussed include:

  • Gender inclusive uniforms
  • Supporting young people to get their first job
  • Lack of accessibility in musical instruments
  • Environmentally damaging ice cream packaging
  • Lack of connection and support for young people post COVID
  • Affordability of school uniforms

Solutions Generated

Students devised solutions in their teams to the problems identified above, including:

  • Creating affordable access to instruments and music lessons by connecting youth mentors with kids who want to learn, and establishing sponsored access to instruments and music lessons.
  • A school fair with baked goods for sale and guest speakers, to start conversations about gender inequality, and raise money for gender neutral bathrooms and uniforms.
  • (Judge's Choice) A website that equips young people with resume writing skills, and connects them to opportunities to help them secure their first job.
  • A new uniform that is gender neutral and lets people express themselves.
  • (People's Choice) Biodegradable packaging for ice cream with a wet wipe included.
  • A safe space for people to come and receive help from therapist’s, watch movies, read books, relax on lounge areas, engage in weekly activities, online pop in’s, group clubs and artistic classes.
  • A new upcycled uniform design that is comfortable, customisable, and affordable.

Skills Developed

Throughout the program youth teams worked their way through a number of activities, developing skills in multiple core competencies whilst preparing for their pitch.

  • Critical thinking
  • Creativity
  • Collaboration
  • Pitching
  • Problem solving
  • Storytelling
  • Decision making

A huge congratulations to all the Cheltenham Year 9 students for their participation in this online program. Thank you to our panellists Mrs Helen Page and our ex-Chelt entrepreneur himself, Arosh Fernando from WOOHAH Productions, for judging the wonderful 'pitches' from our students.