Sarah & Tedwina

Our first TEDxYouth@Adelaide event was held at the RiAus on Saturday 19th November. And what a day!

Our program was selected to showcase the best of TEDxAdelaide in 2010 and 2011, plus TED, TEDGlobal and TEDx around the world. Combined with our live speakers: Mike Worsman and Chris Campbell, Daniel Spencer and Rachel Chapman and Liz Rhodes, the day ended up being a powerful reflection on the importance of finding your own story and acting to change the world.

There was plenty of discussion during the breaks, but our volunteers also took the time to ask our audience the TEDxYouthDay Question: What can you share with the world?”. We covered big issues in these conversations including asylum seekers, domestic violence, global poverty, climate action and taking risks. Here’s some of the responses we gathered about what young people at TEDxYouth@Adelaide would like to see, would like to share and can share with the rest of the world.

Brodie: I want to see a fair treatment in religious crisis. All people pressured by religious tendencies need our help to be empowered and they deserve a chance to be their own individual.

Bella (13):  I would like to see an exchange program in schools with third world countries. I want us to see and live through what they live through every day. We need to see the difference and be aware.

Jo-Anne: I would like to cut waste in my home country of Singapore.  I am inspired by the amount of people who recycle in Australia. Singapore is as big as 1/8 Kangaroo Island, with high rise buildings but no government plan for recycling. 85% of houses are owned by government so I would like to propose a scheme to introduce recycling. It can be as easy as putting a recycling bin into the lobby.

Petra: I got inspired by Dan’s talk about renewable energy. I believe it’s just a piece of the puzzle. We need to realise that the stuff we have at home take resources to produce. I would like to see people realising that they don’t need that much stuff. We can be smart and reuse what other people don’t want, reduce our consumption.

Steve: What if you could go to anywhere ins the world and support yourself and be able to help those locals out of poverty and exploitation with micro or collective enterprises?”

Dina: Don’t live to life to please others. It is YOUR life. Worthwhile is what you make of it, not what others say. Sometimes it’s OK to be selfish. Take risks!

Sandy: Feel your passion with every cell – let it grow and expand. Then share it!

Noriko: To use your voice, speak up – out and loudly.

Kate: Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Thank you for adding your voices to the ones all around the world this weekend, seeking out what we can share.

Noriko Wynn

Noriko has a passion for the environment and ideas. With degrees in science and politics she is currently working in Policy and Communications with the Conservation Council of SA where her interests and skills intersect to work on diverse issues such as climate change, the Murray-Darling Basin, biodiversity, marine parks and renewable energy. Noriko is also a co-founder of Adelaide ArtBeat, an Arts blog where performers and spectators can engage with each other as well as share a love for the arts.

She was an active contributor to the volunteer team for TEDxAdelaide in 2010 and 2011. An eternal student she is completing post graduate studies in Environmental Economics and spends far too much time scoping out potential PhD projects so that she has some project in which to pour her ideas.

Daniel Spencer

Daniel is the State Co-Co-ordinator for the Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC) in South Australia. In his volunteer role he trains and mentors young leaders to establish and organise climate groups in their areas.  Daniel’s passion for creating a safe climate future has led him to be involved in numerous campaigns and to represent the AYCC at the 2010 United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change in Cancun Mexico.  Prior to his involvement with the AYCC Daniel was involved with the Oaktree Foundation and was part of the organising team for the South Australian contingent of the MakePovertyHistory Roadtrip.  Daniel believes in the power of young people when organised together to creatively build the future they want to see.

Rachel Chapman

Rachel Chapman

Rachel Chapman is 21 years old and volunteers for the Oaktree Foundation as the State Generate Manager for South Australia. She is also a full time student at UniSA, where she studies writing and creative communication. Before acquiring the managerial position at Oaktree, she was a participant in the Generate program. It was during that time she got a real insight into the ways in which young people in Australia can instigate incredibly positive change for developing countries around the world. Her passion lies in motivating, encouraging and inspiring young people to use their skills and enthusiasm in the fight to end global poverty.

Liz Rhodes

Liz Rhodes

Liz Rhodes volunteers for the Oaktree Foundation as the National Generate Director, whilst studying a Bachelor of Economics/Development Studies at the University of Adelaide and working in the Youth Ministry team at Cardijn College. She is strongly passionate about empowering young people to realise their potential, and to see global poverty ended in her lifetime. She’s excited to be speaking at TEDxYouth@Adelaide this year and we’re glad to have her!

Dan Ryan

Dan has a vision of contributing to ending extreme poverty in his lifetime and works with Austraining International marketing programs for social development in developing countries where he uses his Unisa marketing degree and experience in Africa and Asia to really make a difference.

Dan’s passion has also taken him to positions in the non for profit sector including volunteering with the Oaktree Foundation, Global Poverty Project and delegate roles at the United Nations (DPI/NGO, 2010, Melbourne) Australian Youth Leaders Convention (2010, Canberra) and One Young World (2011, Zurich). He has met and worked with hundreds of inspiring people from a huge variety of backgrounds and like TED believes in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.

Chris Campbell & Mike Worsman

At TEDxAdelaide, they explained how sharing the positive side of humanity can inspire a world of peace, optimism and equality. They’ll be returning to “replay” their presentation and mix with the younger audience at TEDxYouth@Adelaide.

“When the mind is in a more positive state – we can excel to our greatest levels.”  - Campbell & Worsman

Chris and Mike will be sharing some of the secrets to happiness too. Take a look at their “$20 Challenge”. It is a great example where Chris and Mike have shared their optimism with others: they spread happiness around Rundle Mall.

About Chris Campbell

From seven months back-packing his way around Africa, to working with the Australian Refugee Association and in Darwin Detention Centre, you might think he’s seen the worst of the world, but it is the people he’s met and things he’s seen that make Chris optimistic and positive about our world and left him wanting to share the good in humanity.

About Mike Worsman

From travelling around Australia as a child, to hearing the tales of his parents who have taught in remote communities and recently fostered a child, it is perspective through life experience that has allowed Mike to think in a free and happy way. Recent ventures in Asia and South America and working at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in media has exposed Mike to the countless positives in society, which he now hopes to share with the world.

How fortunate that the 2011 TED Prize Winner, was none other than legendary French artist and photographer, JR! The Inside Out Project is a global participatory art project, which reveals the identities of cities through the posting of over-sized printed portraits in public spaces. Anyone (including you!) can contribute. Just head to the website.

With the support of Bridge8, Adelaide City Council, Format Collective and Renew Adelaide, a bunch of our local street artists hit the streets of our city, and pasted their giant-sized portraits. Take a look-see at what they got up to…