Year 9 Social Enterprise Expo 2022 - Showcase Evening at Monash University

The Year 9 Impact Team

Each Friday during this term, Year 9 students have been taking part in the 'It’s Everyone’s Business Program' with Monash University.

Students have been collaborating in small groups to create a real-life social enterprise business to address a current social issue, culminating in the recent Showcase Evening at Monash University’s Clayton Campus.

Prior to the Showcase Evening, six groups were decided as finalists. They presented their business to the entire audience and all remaining groups presented their business in an expo format.

All students presented with confidence and passion for their chosen issue and left parents and the wider community very impressed with their business ideas.

Owen Moy opened the showcase evening with a personal reflection. He spoke with confidence and authenticity. Read below.

YEAR 9 PERSONAL REFLECTION

Owen Moy, Year 9

I’ve got to be honest; at the beginning of Year 9, I never thought I'd have the confidence to speak in front of an audience this size! But that’s been one of the benefits of a program like this.

When starting the Impact Program, I didn’t expect a whole lot. Spending time in the city was always going to be cool, and it was especially fun to go rock-climbing. But in the beginning, I was treating this just like any other fun excursion; I didn't foresee it really having a lasting impact on me.

However, during the last two days of Lift-Off Week, way back in February, something changed.

We were asked to actually look at ourselves in the mirror and identify our values; what we stood for. We were also prompted to ask ‘why’. I was instantly intrigued, and then, excited by this.

As a result, I started putting effort into all components of the program. I've already gotten so much out of it. My confidence and independence levels have grown through experiences such as train travel to and from the city and then navigating the streets. The connections I have with peers are stronger than ever, and this has been possible because of the broad range of activities we've experienced.

The Year 9 Impact staff trust and believe in us. They want us to succeed and to reach our potential. Fridays are the highlight of my week, and I grow more and more as a person each week. Plus, it's nice to get away from the four walls of Kilvington for a day; to learn in a new stimulating environment; and to learn through experience.

These are just my some of my highlights from the Impact Program, and I know everyone will have taken away something different - big or small. It’s been a rewarding semester so far and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of the year.

PERSONAL GROWTH - STAFF REFLECTION

The Year 9 Impact Team

The most rewarding component of the program has been witnessing the personal growth of each Year 9 student.

We were delighted by the willingness of students to speak openly and vulnerably about issues that were meaningful to them. Students also impressed us with their ability to overcome challenges and grow from these.

Students were also consistently striving for excellence and continuously applied feedback throughout the journey.

Jasmine Ptok shared that their persistence and resilience has been strengthened as a result of the program, through continuing to keep going even when they were tired or felt overwhelmed.

Elijah Slavinskis expressed his growth with other members of his group, commenting that ‘while we were acquaintances before the project, we have come away being close friends who will always support each other’.

IT'S EVERYONE'S BUSINESS - PARENT REFLECTIONS

Suzana Bishop, Year 9 Parent

I want to send you a note of gratitude for the Year 9 Impact program and the Showcase Evening at Monash University.

As a leader of a civic space, a woman and an immigrant, I was incredibly touched to see young minds being shaped around the complex understanding of social issues and the realisation that privilege comes with responsibility.

A program such as Impact creates the connection between purpose and career, social responsibility and business imperatives and, most importantly, it builds self-reflection during a highly formative period in a young person's life.

The Showcase Evening reinforced to me why Kilvington is such a great school! Well done for creating, planning and delivering such a special program.

Lynda Slavinskis, Year 9 Parent

The social enterprise program and the expo put into action that where learning is meaningful, grounded in the real world and obtained through collaboration, education delivers outstanding results.

What impressed me the most was the students’ passion, their deep connection to their chosen social issues and their ability to identify and then be driven by their personal values. I personally loved reading everyone’s expo boards and listening to the finalists’ pitches.

I also thought having students reflect on the presentations on the social issues that inspired their work was a lovely touch that gave the audience context.

I loved witnessing the synergy within groups, especially within unlikely groupings. You could tell that developing an enterprise based on a shared area of interest brought the groups closer together. I also felt that the mentorship and trust from the Year 9 teaching team and from the Monash team propelled the students’ to reach even greater heights.

I felt that many of the groups had found their tribes and that some of the pitches could very well be developed into full-fledged businesses in real life.

I say, let's have more of this inquiry-based, deep, rich learning and less learning by rote exams. Thank you for the Impact program. It is a real gift to our son and to our family - he is coming home every Friday busting to debrief about the day - a far cry from the 'good' or 'fine' when asked about his days usually!

WINNING PITCH - TRANSFORM

While it was an undoubtedly challenging decision, the judges announced 'Transform' as the business winner. Transform is a retail enterprise that provides gender-neutral clothing to empower non-binary and transgender youth. The judges were particularly inspired by the passion and vulnerability of Transform's team members.

Other students were equally impressed by Transform, and it was heart-warming to see their genuine delight at their peers' success.

Jasmine commented, ‘I was really proud of them and felt they were deserving because of all the effort I'd seen them put in’. Joe agreed, explaining that, ‘when Transform won, it was really inspiring to see the hard work and determination of someone affected by the issue be reflected in their solution'.

Congratulations to Kai Hart, Charlie Sherman, Callan O’Connor and Elijah Slavinskis.

Well done to all Year 9 students for the exceptional standard of presentations across the whole year level! The Year 9 Impact Team could not be more proud!

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