Over 20 young people gave their ideas for social enterprise voice during a new YMCA Launchpad program this week.
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The program aimed to give students an idea of what a social enterprise is, build on their passions and provide them with employment skills.
After a tour of Melbourne social enterprises, the students returned to Bendigo on Thursday to drill deeper into their own passions.
Read more: Plan to boost social enterprises
YMCA Youth Empowerment Coordinator Jamie Roberts said the program built skills like flexibility, creative thinking and networking that would stand the students in good stead during their future careers.
He said the program’s goal is “inspiring young people to think about a passion… or a cause, or something where they’d like to change the world for a better place”.
Alongside this, it aims to address youth unemployment in central Victoria through providing skills.
Brainstorming sessions turned up ideas that included tours of Indigenous heritage sites to create employment for young Indigenous people, and hospitality businesses that could be set up to train and employ people.
The students now have the chance to pitch their ideas for seek funding grants of $500 to start their own micro social enterprise.
Elspeth Kernebone
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
Accident brought me to journalism, but every day convinces me again that strong media is more important than ever. After a starting off as the sole reporter in a tiny NSW town, I’m loving the teeming metropolis that is Bendigo. Focussed on health, business and education. Got a tip? Email elspeth.kernebone@bendigoadvertiser.com.au.
