Bellingen Chamber of Commerce

Message from Sue Lennox of OzGREEN with full information below

Dear Friends

Imagine thousands of young people coming together at the same time at 20 locations across Australia on 24-26 November – to tackle the biggest challenge of our times.

reduce our eco-footprint to one planet

connect young people locally, nationally and globally

create our own contributions to really make a difference for climate justice

We had a great meeting of local organisers on Friday afternoon in Bello and there is lots of enthusiasm to make this a big event on the mid north coast. Attached is a list of “jobs” we need to do. Please let me know what you would like to take on.

Schools and youth organisation from Woolgoolga-Macksville and west to Dorrigo will be invited to participate – target age group 10-30 years (ie upper primary, high schools and post school). Our goal is to bring together 500 young people from the region.

OzGREEN has a list of local school contacts – however if you have suggestions of specific people to invite please let us know.

And yes it is an unreasonable timeframe – and so are the pressures from climate change. We will do what we can.

Next meeting – 4pm Wed 21 October @ OzGREEN Office 4/82 Hyde St

Cheers Sue

Sue Lennox

Co-Founder/CEO, OzGREEN

www.ozgreen.org.au

Accelerating Transition to Sustainability

Phone +612 6655 2180

Fax +612 6655 1964

YOUth LEADing Australia!

Local Youth Congresses Linked for National Climate Action and Global Change

Coming to a place near you: 24-26 November 2009

The Challenge

Climate change is shaping the future of our planet, and of future generations. Young people will inherit the impact of decisions made today by governments, businesses and communities everywhere. The challenge for youth in Australia is to take responsibility for their own ecological footprint, develop action plans to accelerate their community’s and Australia’s transition to sustainability and build leadership to establish a safe climate and equitable future.

The Opportunity

Over the past 18 years OzGREEN has built a national network of thousands of inspiring change leaders through our award winning sustainability leadership programs. Youth LEADers (young people involved in our Youth LEAD program) are leading change in their own communities and beyond.

A founding member of the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC), OzGREEN supported in July 2009, Australia’s first national youth climate summit which brought together 1500 youth from across Australia to demand a Power Shift to renewable energy, green jobs and a safe climate future. In September, more young voices were heard: 37,432 youth voted online for a healthy, sustainable world and action on climate change through significant reductions in CO2 emissions.

It is clear that young people care deeply about issues of sustainability & want to make a difference.

The Plan

To respond to the call for engagement by young people, OzGREEN is running YOUth LEADing Australia congresses in over 12 locations across Australia, involving at least 2,500 young people to develop individual and collective sustainability action plans. Youth will share their stories, actions and inspiration with thousands of other young people around the world through digital media and technology. They will connect with other groups & organisations in their own local communities who are already making a difference & find new ways of working together to accelerate the transition to sustainable living.

The Outcomes

YOUth LEADing Australia will:

• Build a generation of young people to lead Australia to a sustainable future;

• Strengthen connections between youth change makers and communities locally, nationally and globally;

• Create pathways for ongoing action and engagement – to create a Summer of Change!

• Measure and monitor reduction of eco footprint;

• Accelerate Australia’s transition to sustainability.

Additional Benefits

• Connect with and support the Australian Youth Delegation in Copenhagen;

• Connected actions throughout Australia, co-creating a Summer of Change;

• Ongoing support for 2,500 LEADers as they reach out to their communities, with the potential to work with schools as sustainability hubs linking students, parents, teachers and businesses through OzGREEN’s PlanetSAVERS 4to1 program in 2010.

The Program

Youth LEAD Australia 3-day congresses will follow OzGREEN’s award winning sustainability in action process, powered up by multi-media technology.

Pre-Congress Workshops

• Local youth crews come together for multi-media skills training by CuriousWorks to

enable real time reporting of actions and stories via Youtube and Facebook

• Training for local congress facilitators and mentors through OzGREEN’s multi award winning programs

Day 1: Local actions, global challenges (24 November)

• Local Actions –featuring local displays and inspiring talks from community members

• Global Challenges – Pulse of the Planet presentation featuring up to date science about the state of the planet and the impacts of climate change

• Measurement of personal eco footprint and visioning a sustainable future

Day 2: Be the Change (25 November)

• Creating change brainstorming and sharing of ideas in locations around Australia. Inspiring change stories presented by Youth LEADers

• Action planning to turn change strategies into real projects that young people will drive in

their own communities and beyond

Day 3: Youth LEAD Community Climate Action Forums (26 November)

• Morning – preparation for local community forums – including preparation for

presentations, creative skits and coaching/support for young people.

• Afternoon – local Youth LEADing Australia forums including representatives from government and local businesses, parents, teachers, principals and the public – designed and run by youth .

Post-Congress

• Connect with and support the Australian Youth Delegation in Copenhagen;

• Ongoing support for 2,500 LEADers as they reach out to their whole school community - students, parents and teachers (PlanetSAVERS 4to1 Program);

• Report and presentation back on the success, outcomes and ongoing actions from the congresses;

Locations

• Capital cities- Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane;

• Major regional centres – Alice Springs, NSW Cairns-Cape York, Mid North Coast, Northern Beaches (Sydney), NSW Southern Highlands, NSW Blue Mountains, NSW Far North Coast & Queensland Gold Coast, regional Victoria.

Opportunities for ongoing involvement

OzGREEN will support Youth LEADers to reach out to their own local community after the Youth LEAD Australia Congresses – including:

• Programs for schools to engage the whole community – students, teachers and parents;

• Sustainability leadership and professional development programs for regional clusters of schools and communities.

Partnership Possibilities….building youth leadership and action together

We are looking for partners to help make this wonderful event happen and extend the reach of this program. Support needed includes:

• Financial and in kind support, including venues, catering, creative design /marketing support;

• Liaison with local organisations, including schools, youth and community groups, councils, businesses;

• National / regional program management support;

• Technology – web/IT/media skills;

• Media, marketing and communication skills;

• Facilitating, mentoring and coaching skills.

Background of OzGREEN

OzGREEN, a not-for-profit organisation, has been offering award-winning learning and leadership programs which inspire people of all ages to reduce their eco footprint and to think and act sustainably for 18 years. OzGREEN’s transformative educational programs provide the deep understanding and tools for children, youth, adults, and businesses to live and work sustainably. Awards OzGREEN has received include the Eureka Prize for Education for a Sustainable Environment, Banksia Environment Award, Environmental Educator of the Year and UN Media Peace Awards. Sue Lennox, CEO & Co-Founder was named as one of Sydney’s Top 100 Most Influential People by The Sydney Magazine. People who participate in OzGREEN’s sustainability programs take leadership roles in their schools, communities and workplaces and typically reduce their eco footprint by 35% within 6 months. They develop initiatives within their schools, communities and workplaces to bring about true, sustainable change.

Regional Partnership Possibilities

$10,000 contribution

banner up the front, acknowledged as major sponsor at local forum, logo as partner on venue materials; logo on local website, mentioned in press release and program, recycled materials display table at venue

$5,000 and under contribution

logo on presentations and acknowledgment in materials, presentations, recycled materials display table at venue

Part contributions are welcome!

Where the $ go – Funding Priorities

1. Materials and training $4,000 $1,000 per person x 4 people per region

2. Linking up $5,000 contribution to website and coordination

3. Local venue and catering $5000 for 500 participants ($100 per person for 3 days)

$2,000 for 200 participants

4. Local coordination $5,000 to employ a local coordinator to organise program

5. Follow-up support for young people, schools and youth organisations in 2010

o PlanetSavers (12 months support) $8,000 per school; $45,000 for 6 schools

o Youth LEAD – sustainability leadership program for 15-25 year olds $25,000

o Teaching with HEART – professional development program $15,000

o Leading with the HEART – community leadership program $15,000

o Living Communities – community engagement program $15,000