THE Youth Frontiers mentoring program has allowed year nine students of Chatham High School to think outside the box in how to fix problems they've identified within their community.
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The five passionate Chatham High students included Griffin Humphreys, Shanna Aggar, Teagan Phillips, Mikaylee Towers and Stanley Tan, who were each mentored by a community member on how to launch their innovative ideas.
The students had to develop an idea, either create the product or the plans to hold the event, plan the promotion around it and present it at Club Taree in front of other local high school students, teachers and member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead.
Griffin's idea called 'Youth Health' involved the creation of a wallet sized pamphlet featuring youth mental health services.
"Making it small and more discreet in a school setting, might make people less of a target for bullying," said Griffin.
Barriers between students, was a problem that student Shanna Aggar also wished to address.
Shanna noticed "barriers" in mainstream students and disabled and special education students in mixing together.
She wanted to created a day where barriers could be broken, and she developed the concept of "Basketball Together" - an afternoon of basketball where everyone can join in.
Shanna Aggar's idea will soon become a reality, when the school has its first Basketball Together afternoon this term.
Activity, was also on the mind of student Teagan Phillips when she developed her idea "Move for Life".
Noticing the lack of physical activity within primary school students, Teagan wanted primary school students to get "hooked" on exercise, so they would stay hooked through high school and their life.
She developed a brightly coloured pamphlet and poster that promotes keeping active as fun, and also developed mini-games that would engage younger students in activity.
Mikaylee Towers, also wanted to help students younger than her with her idea of the "School Survival Kit"
Mikaylee admits when she made the move to high school it took her awhile to feel comfortable. To make the transition easier for other students her idea was to put together a "School Survival Kit" featuring stationary essentials, a map, and other essentials.
Stanley Tan looked outside the school setting and within the community to form his idea. Stanley put together a pamphlet called 'A Guide to Remembrance'.
The pamphlet was a self-drive tour around memorials in the local area.
According to the student's year deputy Trudi Edman these students are great leaders in their community due to presenting such community orientated ideas.
Trudi would like to thank art teacher and the school's Youth Frontier mentoring program organiser Rebecca Humphreys, for her work.