It was a full house at Newhaven Primary School last week for a Kids as Catalysts Showcase.

Volunteer groups and community organisations from across the Bass Coast region joined with students from Newhaven Primary, Powlett River Primary and Bass Valley Primary, their parents, grandparents and even great grandparents and the broader school communities to celebrate the extraordinary community-change projects students had co-designed and delivered with their community action partners.

The projects ranged from yarning circles, art murals, connecting kids from remote towns, creating historical moments around the pandemic, and designing and printing 3D devices.

The showcase follows on from the successful pilot program run with Newhaven Primary School last year, and was led by local not for profit Kids Thrive.

“We would like to give a huge thanks to the Bass Coast Community Foundation, the schools involved, the community and funders as well as media outlets who have supported this beautiful program through their time, talent and treasure,” said Dr Andrea Lemon, co-founder of Kids Thrive.

Grade Five and Six students from the three local primary schools and their community action partners showcased the projects they have delivered and the outcomes achieved to help drive positive change in their local communities.

Through the program, students worked to address issues they see as having greatest importance in their local community – including support for older people, cultural inclusion, gender equality, environmental issues and protection of animals and wildlife as well as disability advocacy.

Executive Officer of the Bass Coast Community Foundation (BCCF) Sarah Bourke said funding the program again has demonstrated the importance of connecting and engaging young people in our community.

“Bass Coast Kids as Catalyst program leads the way in fostering youth engagement and participation from an early age,” she said. “The fifteen action projects led by the students are all remarkable in themselves, and they should feel proud of the impacts that they can make in our local community.”

Members of the BCCF board, including Chair Phil Friedlos were thrilled with the students’ presentations.

“Supporting Bass Coast Kids as Catalysts is a great example of the power of the Bass Coast Community Foundation using locally donated money to fund local solutions to local issues,” Phil said.

“We hear all the time about the issue of children being worried about what's happening or not happening in the world. So, the foundation is proud to support Kids Thrive, such a forward-looking local organisation, to have such a positive impact on the lives of children's mental health and wellbeing.“

Kids as Catalysts will continue to run across schools in 2023 in the local area. If your community organisation or volunteer group wants to be involved with this unique charitable program, and partner with students in 2023 please send an email to admin@kidsthrive.org.au.

To find out more about the program go to www.kidsthrive.org.au and bccf.org.au.

Read more: Kids as Catalyst projects