Discovery Program @ Coomera Rivers State School on Wednesday 26th February 2025 

Young Change Agents' social entrepreneurship programs help youth see problems as opportunities. Thank you to the amazing leadership and educators, Angela Waide, Louise Landers, Roxy Crook, Narelle Shore and Chris Goldsmith for organising this program and for actively participating on the day. 14 female-identifying students in years 4-8 took part from Coomera Rivers State School and Foxwell State Secndary College. Thank you to our facilitators, Renae and Mia.

Students worked in teams of 3-4 in this "hackathon-style" workshop to identify problems within their communities then ideate, validate, prototype and pitch. Five social enterprise ideas were pitched and educator and students' mindset, skillset, and toolset development were recognised and celebrated with a certificate ceremony at the end of the program. 

Thank you to the Academy for Enterprising Girls for the opportunity and the amazing merchandise gifts, the girls wore their t-shirts proudly. 

Thank you again Angela Waide and Louise Landers for organising!

Community Problems Identified

Students discussed what community meant to them and worked to identify problems and create a vision for the future they want to create. Community problems identified by youth included:

• Our problem was the name calling at school which can lead to decline in confidence, depression, and mental health issues. How might we make people feel like they belong?
  
  
• Our problem is that science is hard leading to students stop trying, making them anxious, stressed and sad. How might we support students to better understand science?
  
  
• The problem we chose was cross country isn't an enjoyable experience leading to students feeling uncomfortable, anxious, not coming to school, hot and sweaty. How might we make cross country more enjoyable? 

• Our problem is there is no playground for years 5-6 leading to us being board, conflict and fighting, a lack of movement, tiredness and lack of energy. How might we be able to find a space for the year 5-6 to play? 
  
  
• Five educators completed the program alongside students focusing on parental communication and involvement as their opportunity. 

Student Social Enterprise Ideas

Five social enterprises were pitched to address problems identified in their community. 

• At Tiddas, we will be developing an app that will assist students to build their resilience, confidence and self-esteem to bounce back from name calling and bullying.
• At Young Scientists, we will be designing and selling indigenous designed merchandise. With the profits, we will purchase science games for the school so kids can learn about science but still be having fun and aren't bored. 
• At Fans Are Us, we will be designing and selling a wearable fan to prevent students overheating when doing cross country. The fans can be worn on your wrist to keep you cool. Create a fan to wear of wrist to keep cool.
• At our social enterprise, we are going to sell hats, sunscreen and water bottles to fundraise for the equipment for a yr 56 playground. We will promote the health and safety aspect of our products for use in the playgrounds that we create with the profits.
• Educators created a social enterprise called Collab Coomera which would involve a school markets on weekends, inviting students and educators from surrounding primary and high schools to showcase learnings and sell products created at school. This would bring people from our school communities together and create a sense of belonging.