Young Change Agents Partners with Rotary Brighton for “Be Your Own Boss” Series

In celebration of 100 years of Rotary in Australia and New Zealand, Young Change Agents partnered with the Rotary Club of Brighton to launch the "Be Your Own Boss" program in 2021. The program aimed to build the next generation of social entrepreneurs in the Bayside and Kingston areas, and raise the profile of what young people can do and contribute to the Bayside community.

To adapt to Melbourne's two lockdowns in 2021, the program was delivered virtually with young people aged 12-25 years from Bayside and Kingston.

The program consisted of an Explorer program where young people develop their enterprise skills through identifying a community problem and reframing it as an opportunity through social enterprise. After participating in the Explorer, participants then completed a YINC where youth were able to work with mentors to grow, test, and build their idea. The workshops culminated in a Community Showcase where young people presented their solutions to a panel of industry and community leaders.

Due to the success of the 2021 "Be Your Own Boss" program, the partnership will continue in 2022 and will expand to include more schools in the Bayside and Kingston areas.