CHANGEMAKER PROJECTS

Check out some of the projects our Changemaker teams have pulled off!

We are so proud of the innovative ways young people choose to tackle the issues that matter to them.

This is not a game

Nowra Changemakers - Term 2, 2023

"This is not a game" was developed with the primary objective of raising awareness about individual carbon footprints and offering practical solutions to mitigate the impact on the environment.

To engage and empower the community, the changemakers came up with a unique approach - a bingo card. This card consisted of 12 eco-friendly tasks that participants were encouraged to complete over the course of a month. Through this interactive game, individuals were motivated to adopt sustainable practices and reduce their carbon footprints.

Throughout the month-long challenge, each participant documented their experiences, sharing their progress as they ticked off their bingo cards. This documentation served two purposes: to track the personal journey of each participant and to inspire others by showcasing the positive impact of small changes in everyday habits.

Check out some of their videos here.

The project was important to the Nowra changemakers as they all deeply care about preserving the local environment. It provided an opportunity for young people and community members to collectively make a meaningful contribution by making simple yet effective changes in their daily lives. By emphasising that these seemingly small changes, when implemented on a larger scale, can create positive impacts, the initiative rallied individuals to take responsibility for their carbon footprints and become champions of sustainability.

Since the start of the project, two separate groups have participated in the challenge, totaling 20 enthusiastic individuals who embraced the bingo challenge, completing over 200 tasks to help our environment. This growing participation demonstrates the success of ‘this is not a game’, as it continues to inspire more people to engage actively in reducing their carbon footprints and creating a healthier, more sustainable future.

If you are keen to give the bingo challenge a go, download the bingo sheet and instructions here.

Trash Talks

Kiama Changemakers - Term 1, 2023

"Trash Talks" was initiated by the Kiama changemakers in 2023. They had concerns about the increasing amount of waste found on local beaches. After doing some research they found out how big this problem was; six million tonnes of debris enters the world's oceans every year.

The changemakers hired a minibus and organised a Trash Talk Tour. The tour included clean ups at three local beaches around the Kiama area. Around 20 people went on the trash talk tour and after cleaning up the beaches it ended with a waste free BBQ.

The tour was guided by Wombat, a local environmental advocate that utilises his social media platform to effectively showcase to mainstream audiences the importance of embracing sustainability in their daily lives. During the trash talks tour he shared insights about waste management while cleaning up the beaches.

To amplify their impact, the changemakers also created a short video documenting the project, aiming to educate other young people and the broader community about the significance of protecting our local environment.

A total of 10kg of trash was picked up during the tour. By blending practical clean-up efforts with knowledge sharing, the project emphasised the importance of waste reduction and environmental protection in the local community.

Flip Off Challenge

Nowra Changemakers - Term 1, 2022

In 2022, 10 Changemakers decided to give up their smartphones and replace them with a flip phone for two weeks to raise awareness about the unhealthy impact smartphones, social media and constant access have on our mental health. In doing so, they ran a fundraising campaign and made a short film.

This project was important to our changemakers as they were noticing the effects social media was having on themselves and the people around them. In Australia, teens spend an average of 14.4 hours a week online. Research has shown a negative correlation between time spent on social media and the health of young people's mental and physical well being.

Since the first flip off challenge, we have had over 20 people participate in the challenge. Everyone that has participated in the challenge noticed positive benefits of being off their smartphones for two weeks and continuing some of the habits that were created during the time into the future. Some of those things included putting time limits on how much time they are allowed to spend on social media, deleting some social media apps completely and generally forming a healthier relationship with how they interact with their phones, and social media.

This year we are running the flip off challenge monthly. Head over to the Flip Off page if you want to find out more about it or sign up.

Basketball Court

Kiama Changemakers - Term 3, 2022

One of the issues our Kiama Changemakers identified was the lack of a basketball court in the central Kiama area. Whilst Sonder couldn’t create a basketball court our changemakers came up with some ideas about promoting the need of a basketball court.

The first thing they did was start a petition addressed to the Kiama political leaders to show them the need and want from the community for a basketball court.

Our changemakers also got the chance to speak with a local Kiama councillor to pitch the importance of a basketball court and what it would do for the local young people. The councillor offered advice about the petition and took the pitch back to council and shared it with others.

The project was important to the Kiama changemakers because young people want a place where they can be active outside and hang with friends. The changemakers did some research and found been outside is great for individuals physical and mental wellbeing which was another issue that wanted to address

Whilst Kiama hasn’t got a basketball court yet, we know it’s a conversation that’s continuing to happen and hopefully in the next couple of years we will see a plan and hopefully a basketball court in the central Kiama area.

You can help keep this project alive by signing the petition here.

Mile for a smile

Nowra Changemakers - Term 2, 2023

During Mental Health May 2023, Sonder Youth’s Nowra Changemakers created a region-wide scavenger hunt for 10 red boxes. The boxes included positive affirmation stickers, reflective wellbeing questions, and encouraged the finder to leave a positive not for others.

In order for the participant to find the code for the box and get a sticker they had to answer a question from the QR code on the box, the questions include;

What are you proud of yourself for?

What act of kindness from a stranger will you never forget?

What do you do for yourself to make yourself feel better?

All questions were aimed to get the participants to reflect on the positive aspects of their wellbeing. Hundreds of people took part throughout the month!

This project was important to the Nowra changemakers because they wanted to encourage young people to improve their wellbeing by getting their friends and getting outside. Mile for a Smile was an awesome, engaging project that everyone in the community could participate in.

Keep an eye on our socials in May to see where the boxes will be hidden in 2024!!

BU Walkathon

Ulladulla Changemakers - Term 4, 2023

Our Ulladulla Changemakers created the Bu Walkathon project after discussing they wanted to do something about mental health awareness and bringing the community closer together.

Throughout the month of November, participants and community members had a challenge to see who could walk the most and engage in thought-provoking conversations. Walking was tracked through Strava and a Facebook group where participants could share updates.

This initiative has not only encouraged physical exercise but also facilitated vital discussions on mental health in the community. During the walkathon, a daily question was posed to participants to ignite new conversations and also to deepen connections within the community, fostering a sense of togetherness.

The competition aspect, with rewards for those who walk the most kilometers, added a layer of fun and excitement, encouraging greater participation from individuals. The support from local businesses in the form of donated gift vouchers for prizes was heartening. It demonstrates the power of community involvement and collaboration in addressing important issues.

This project was important to our Ulladulla Changemakers as they identified the importance of raising awareness about mental wellbeing and removing the stigma around it amongst young people. They also noticed a lack of community connection since COVID-19 which was why they added the daily question aspect into the challenge.

The Bu Walkathon was an amazing project that showcased the difference that can be made through collective action and compassion towards mental health awareness and support.