Challenge and Enrichment

Victorian Young Leaders: Global Youth Forums 2023 

The Victorian Young Leaders: Global Youth Forum is an interactive three-part online learning program funded by the Victorian Department of Education and implemented by the Asia Education Foundation.   

The program connects Year 9 students with peers from a range of schools and countries across the Asia-Pacific including; China, Thailand, Japan, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines.  

The forums are designed to deepen student understanding of identity, belonging, culture, globalisation, and what it means to be a global citizen.  

Vermont Secondary College had the privilege of participating in this program during the end of Term 1 – please read their reflection on the program below: 

14 students from Year 9 volunteered to participate in this program, and throughout these three days we were able to develop our leadership, critical thinking, social and public speaking skills. We started off the forum by discussing FAVE, an acronym which represents skills and key points to provide us with more confidence when speaking to a wide audience.  

There were four main global issues to choose from: quality education, water pollution, gender equality and reducing inequalities. We decided to go with quality education, and so we discussed how we could provide quality education for those living in poverty. We then went into breakout rooms in our respective groups and were able to interact and discuss these topics with our peers from all over the Asia pacific. 

 It was very enjoyable and eye-opening to be able to discuss with people not only within our cohort, but also overseas! In day two, (still branching off Quality Education), we focused more on generalisation and stereotypes, globalisation, and what it means to be a global citizen.  Again, we broke off into breakout rooms with peers from all over Asia and discussed these topics together.  

Finally, we made an ‘action statement’ and decided which topic we wanted to do and an action plan to combat that plan. As a result of that, we decided to stem off Quality education, and the importance of teaching children life skills regarding sustainability. We are sad that this program has come to an end, but it was definitely a memorable experience which has taught us many valuable skills for the future. 

- Chloe H