Illuminate Education Australia came to Allegra School and challenged our students in ways they never expected!
The illuminate Challenge lasted five days and students, in groups of four or five, were tasked with identifying, developing and presenting a sustainable development goal for the local community of Coffs Harbour and surrounds. This project allowed them to apply their newfound skills to real-world challenges and contribute to positive change in their community.
These proposals addressed local issues identified by the teams, from environmental concerns to social justice and youth wellbeing. The ideas ranged from the development of a nature-based camp to support young people recovering from addiction to the implementation of a family-focused meal kit to reduce food waste and support local farmers. One team created an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic packaging for local bakeries from seaweed, while another focused on a plan to convert old council chambers into emergency housing for homeless families.
Throughout the week the judges and mentors had the opportunity to identify certain strengths specific to the teams. The Collaboration Award went to the PAYFAIR team, made up of Kash, Elijah, Ben, Charlie, Charlotte and Molly. Together, these students developed a website and app that allows employers to build equitable and supportive pay structures. The Student Choice award for Best Idea was won by Kohan, Will, Grace, Mia, and Amelia for the development of a Summer Jetty Festival and other youth activities to keep young people in the local community with fun, engaging and healthy activities.
All teams worked together throughout the week to create prototypes of their projects, develop marketing materials and come up with sound financial budgets. The team with the best overall sustainable development goal was Team 11. Max, Laine, Olivia, Layla, Eyla, Porsha and Tahlia collectively came up with =qual. An app that supports those seeking to leave domestic violence situations, with space for storing important documents, evidence, checklist to prepare to leave and how to recognise domestic violence and the appearance of a calculator, this could save lives.
These proposals demonstrate the students' creativity, empathy, and commitment to making a positive impact on their community. By addressing a variety of pressing issues, these ideas have the potential to contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future for Coffs Harbour and its residents.
