YOUNG PEOPLE TO GENERATE CHANGE WITHIN TASMANIA

By Carla Johnson

The Oaktree Foundation Tasmania has wasted no time in focusing their energy on 2011. Fresh from their Launch in December 2010, Oaktree is now recruiting passionate, motivated individuals for their Generate Program. Run by young people under the age of 26, Generate aims to develop young people into dedicated and effective agents of change within their own communities.

The program is designed for young people who want to volunteer and make a difference but have never had experience or known where to start. Through active campaigning and lobbying action, volunteers learn the necessary skills to support their vision for global change.

The Oaktree Foundation created Generate as an opportunity for young people to meet like-minded, motivated individuals, whilst allowing first time volunteers to gain experience in the aid and development sector. Greens Leader Nick McKim said how the young people of Oaktree are at the forefront of change in Australia. “It is young people like you who are the future nation, business and community leaders of this country”, said Mr McKim at the December Launch.

Tasmanian Director Jess Jacobson said the program is investing in Tasmania’s youth and equipping them with skills in event management, leadership and public speaking. “Youth are often cast in a negative light. Generate is a program trying to turn that image around, because there are so many young people out there who are doing great things and Generate will capture that”, Ms Jacobson said.

The program runs from mid-March to mid-October, and is designed to fit in with University semesters and exam periods. Over the seven month period Generators will need to commit four hours per week on fundraising, event management and campaigning.

Program Coordinator Henry Fowkes stated he was excited about the seeing the results of working with a motivated group of people ready to change the world. “At the end of 2011 I would love to look back and see that the Generate program has been a massive success in Tasmania, Generating thirty dedicated and effective agents of change, keen to make the world a better place Mr Fowkes said.

The Oaktree Foundation is an entirely youth run aid and development agency, working to end extreme poverty by providing educational opportunities for the world’s poorest. Oaktree’s work involves fundraising, advocating for change and training and mobilizing young people to lead the movement against extreme poverty.

For more information, or to apply, please visit www.theoaktree.org/initiatives/generate/ or contact Henry Fowkes on h.fowkes@theoaktree.org
Madeleine Figg Generate Student Facilitator The Oaktree Foundation