Alumni Projects
As our alumni will tell you, a young person’s association with Sonder can last a lifetime. We have an active and engaged alumni community with whom we regularly meet to connect, share stories, support and share changemaking ideas.
From time to time, one of our superstar alumni comes to us with an idea for a Changemaker project that they would like to bring to life. Here are some of those projects:
SonderTalks
Alumni Project, 2023
SonderTalks, a podcast by Sonder Youth, is created by and for young people, addressing issues that matter.
The first SonderTalks series was launched towards the end of 2023, focusing on climate anxiety. SonderTalks is the passion project of beloved Sonder Youth team member and program leader extraordinaire, Takesa Frank, who also acts as the podcast’s host. We interviewed 6 guests with some pretty amazing environmental credentials who volunteered to share their unique perspectives on climate anxiety, climate change and how young people can take positive action within their own lives to manage feelings of climate distress.
The guests included the passionate environmentalist and indie music sensation, Jack River, Dr. Sally Gillespie from Climate Psychology Australia, local media personality Wombat, Shoalhaven mayor Amanda Findley, and environmental activist Bob Brown. By engaging with such influential voices, SonderTalks aimed to provide a valuable resource for young people grappling with climate-related concerns.
Be on the lookout for upcoming podcast series in 2024! 🎙️
Check out our podcast episode with
Bob Brown!
New Year’s Day Documentary
Alumni and Community Project, 2020
‘New Year’s Day’ is a short documentary made about young people’s experiences during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20. It brought attention to the stories of young people when so much of the media at the time was from adults and leaders - but this experience shaped how young people see their futures.
In 2020, Sonder Youth collaborated with Headspace Nowra and BC Films to create this film. Over a span of four months, local young people were interviewed to convey their personal experiences during the bushfires. Additionally, they were encouraged to write a letter to their future selves, reflecting on how the experience shaped them and sharing the sources of courage and hope they discovered. This allowed them to express their thoughts and reflect on the impact 12 months on.
This project was important to the young people involved as it provided an opportunity for young people to connect and reflect on their experiences after such a significant event - loss of flora and fauna, homes, sense of safety, community
To introduce the documentary, Sonder organized a screening titled "New Year's Day" on the one-year anniversary of the Black Summer Bushfires. The event featured performances by local young musicians, market stalls operated by young people, and food stalls. This initiative served as an opportunity for hope and connection for young individuals on the South Coast in the aftermath of the disasters.
