PROJECT SUMMARY

We want to ensure the sustainability of our Young Changemakers program of free inclusive drama workshops and grow it even further. We believe nobody should be excluded from the creative experience and everyone should be able to express themselves regardless of disability, neurodivergence, learning challenges, cultural and linguistic difference, economic difficulty, gender diversity and sexual identity. Young Changemakers makes this possible.

Since 1980 many generations of Melbourne’s children and teenagers have participated in our celebrated drama workshops program, which has enriched their everyday lives, developed life skills, and impacted their choice of future careers. Our workshop artists are professional practising artists with a passion for collaborating and creating original work with young people. Our lead workshop artists are supported by inclusion artists to ensure all the children can participate and benefit from the program fully.

We currently offer the Young Changemakers program to 9-12-year-olds in some of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas of Melbourne where children have access barriers to creative learning opportunities. Many come from vulnerable communities, lower socioeconomic backgrounds, are recent migrants and refugees, from culturally diverse backgrounds or dealing with family violence and neglect. They may have limited access to some of the positive outcomes that community engagement, founded in education and creative expression, can provide.

We also run paid workshop programs in South Yarra and Northcote, and through Young Changemakers we are striving to continue and expand our capacity to provide partial and full scholarships to young people who otherwise would not be able to participate.