UNICEF YOUTH FOR CHANGE

CANTERBURY CONFERENCE

Contents

IntroductionUseful InformationOrganisersVolunteersTimetableSpeakers

Introduction

Welcome to Youth Participation & Justice; a UNICEF Youth for

Change Conference.

This is the first ever UNICEF Youth for Change conference to be held in

Christchurch. The whole event has been independently organised by a

group of four passionate young people who share a common interest in

inspiring and motivating other young people to tackle global issues.

Everything about this conference is Youth Participation. Our organisers,

volunteers, participants, even some of our speakers ­ all youth. We

wanted to create an example of the possibilities of what youth can do. We

have sought after numerous opportunities for our participants to engage

in ­ if they choose to do so. 

We have invited experts in their field to pass on their knowledge to

participants. From CEOs, Youth Participation managers, and even

community groups campaigning for positive change for young people and

the wider community.

Useful Information

Where:Canterbury Horticultural Center, 57 Riccarton Avenue

Christchurch.

When:Monday 23rd May, 9am until 4pm

Dress code:Whatever feels comfortable. If you are coming as part of a

school delegation you may be required to wear uniform - check

with your school if you are unsure.

No wifi available to participants

Notepads and pens provided

Fully catered

My first involvement with UNICEF was being invited to

join my high school’s UNICEF club last year. I have since

been appointed leader. As a group we have been with

fundraising and raising awareness for important issues

facing children. I strongly believe young people need

to have a global awareness so they understand what

issues plague children in war torn countries, such as

Syria. I saw helping to organize this conference as an

opportunity to spread the word about what UNICEF

does and to show people how they can make a change

by being educated and getting involved.

Gemma - Organiser

Ethyn - Lead Organiser

Organisers

The aim of this conference for me, is not only that

people may take away a toolkit of skills in standing in

the defense of the rights of others, but also to

develop the passions and potential of those already

striving to create positive change for children in New

Zealand and around the globe. Being a UNICEF New

Zealand Youth ambassador, I have gained a numerous

array of skills. I wish to showcase and share these skills

through my role in putting together this event.

I hope to inspire passion and a drive for change among

the young people we bring together through this

event.

Emma - Organiser

Helen - Organiser

Organisers

Hi! My name is Helen Wu and I go to Macleans College

in Auckland and I'm currently the leader of the UNICEF

club there. I've been involved with UNICEF NZ since I

was in year 10 and I've always been very passionate

about everything that UNICEF stands for. In particular,

I really believe in empowering young people to give

them the tools to get more involved in their schools

and local communities which is why I was really keen

to be a part of organizing this conference.

My name is Emma and I'm passionate about

humanities and changing the world around us! I

believe in making change by joining organisations, like

UNICEF. I had my first involvement with UNICEF NZ in

Winter 2015, where I attended Youth Congress in

Wellington. This opened up my eyes a lot more than

what they already were, and caused me to be apart of

the organising committee for this conference. Youth

Congress made me realise that I want to educate

people about the changes they can make in the world

that we live in.

Samantha - Volunteer

Jugjeet (Jay) - Volunteer

Volunteers

I believe in the power of youth and I know that we have the ability to do greatthings! This belief has led me to volunteer for this conference to help a wonderfuland inspiring team educate a passionate and motivated group of youth. . It isimportant for us to be involved and engaged with issues around the globe,because at the end of the day – its our world and if we don’t look out for it, whowill? Young people are powerful and it’s essential that we put our power to goodcauses. Let’s work together during this conference to open our minds and uncoverour potential!

About myself: I'm Samantha Fair and am currently in my last year at Riccarton Highschool. I'm very social and like to get involved. I am head of the environmentcommittee at Riccarton. Together the committee runs events for our school, tendto the garden club, get the recycling done and care for the environment. I enjoysports and partake in waka arma and netball. I love travelling and aspire to travelmore in the future.

Janna - VolunteerJanna is an exchange student currently on an exchange in New Zealand. Janna isdriven to be part of this conference in an effort to understand more aboutinspiring young people through communication and leadership.

Kate - Volunteer

Patience - Volunteer

Volunteers

I am a 19 year old Law Student at Canterbury University who is keen to inspireyoung people to do great things. I am currently working on a project to helpimprove access to essential medicine for people in rural Zimbabwe. I never wouldhave had the courage to even say the idea out loud without the motivation andinspiration from others in my community. I want an opportunity to give otheryoung people that same motivation and inspiration to do great things.

I am here not because I get to miss a day of high school, but because I know thatthis conference is important and valuable, and because of my passion for politics,equality, social activism and justice. I like other, more typical teenage things, too -when I'm not researching or discussing the latest international political scandal, Ilove to read, act, play with my cat and sing (badly) while playing the acoustic guitar(also badly). I hope everyone at this conference learns something new today andevery day.

I am a first year undergraduate student at Lincoln University, studying towards abachelor of commerce in accounting and finance. I am a global challenges scholarwho is strongly passionate about improving justice throughout the world. Mydream for the future is being able to combine my passions into making the world abetter place.

Loren - Volunteer

Freya - Volunteer

Volunteers

Freya is studying her second year at the University of Canterbury. Freya has beenheavily involved with UN Youth over the last several years and is motivated toprogress her skills in encouraging youth participation.

Santiago - VolunteerMy name is Santiago Blanco and I am currently 16 years old. I was born in Bogota,Colombia,. I moved to New Zealand two years ago with my mum, dad and sisterbecause my mum and dad wanted for me and my sister to experience living in adifferent culture, while my mum studied a Ph.D on education and restorativejustice in the University of Canterbury. Since I can remember I have loved to traveland lucky for me, I have gotten great opportunity to do so. When I was 1 year old Iwent to the United States for one year while my mum was doing a master degreeat Harvard University, this trip, even though I don’t remember any of it I believebegan the love and passion to learn about other cultures, interesting places andinteresting people. Since then, I have gotten the opportunity to visit wonderfulplaces such as India, France, Italy, Norway, Cuba, Guatemala and of courseNew Zealand. I love sports; I did horse ridding for about 8 years, which gave methe opportunity to compete at the nationals in Colombia for show jumping in2013, but the truth is that I love any sport that allows me to run and have fun. I amvery passionate about the importance of education and race unity and this is whywhen I finish school, I want to study law and politics and hopefully one day be ableto make a difference.

Alice - VolunteerI am currently experiencing my last year at Riccarton High School. I amvery involved and committed to; Waka Ama, dragon boating, basketball, theenvironment committee, peer support, and most recently was fortunate to bestage manager and co-host for Stage Challenge. I also enjoy my extra-curricularcommitments as; a part-time worker at New World, skiing in the winter, and I amcurrently finishing my ninth year of speech and drama, working towards bydiploma in speech board competitions. I am ambitious and enthusiastic for thefuture, planning on attending University next year and am very interested in theforeign exchange programs and volunteer work available, travelling is my ultimategoal and I hope to enter a profession that allows me to do this.

Timetable

9:00am9:30am9:45am10:00am11:00am11:15am11:30am12:30pm1:00pm2:00pm2:15pm3:15pm3:30pm

- Registrations open- Welcoming ceremony- Group discussions- Speaker: Jacqui, UNICEF NZ- Morning tea / break- UNICEF Clubs presentation- Speaker: Alex & April, World Vision NZ- Lunch- Speaker: Sam Judd, Sustainable Coastlines- Afternoon tea / break- Speaker: Child Friendly Cities- Group discussions- Closing ceremony

Alex - Speaker

SpeakersJacqui - SpeakerPrior to joining UNICEF NZ in 2011, Jacqui was a primary school teacher for 10years before being contracted to provide specialised ICT teaching to a number ofWairarapa primary schools. Jacqui is currently the Child Rights Education advisorand Youth Engagement Manager for UNICEF NZ. She is responsible for UNICEF’sGlobal Education programme supporting teaching and learning around citizenship,humanitarian issues, aid and development themes, the SDGS, children’s rights andthe United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Jacqui is passionateabout eLearning, ensuring all children know about and realise their rights, andadvancing global citizenship for New Zealand students. UNICEF NZ's youthengagement programme consists of working closely with UNICEF NZ's YouthAmbassador team, events involving children and youth, and working with a rangeof young people keen to support the work of UNICEF and bring about positivechange for children.

April - Speaker

Passionate social justice advocate Alex Hitchmough spent the last couple of yearsliving and working with local communities in Cambodia and Timor Leste oncapacity building and youth outreach programs. Now back in NZ, Alex works asSchool Partnerships Manager for World Vision in the South Island, inspiring andequipping young New Zealanders to engage in local actions that have global reachand impact. Alex also volunteers as a trustee for the New Zealand division ofZimbabwe Rural Schools Libraries Trust (ZimTrust).

April is the founder and chairperson of the Limitless Charitable Trust. Limitless hasthe vision to equip every young New Zealander to lead a life of passion & purpose.April is driven to see young New Zealanders equipped with the confidence, self-awareness and opportunities to pursue a career they are passionate about, and dogreat things with the 80,000 hours they will work in their lives. April also workswith World Vision as a Fundraising Promoter and is a part of the World VisionManawa Ahi community of social change makers, a group of people whoconstantly inspire her.

Child Friendly Cities- Workshop

SpeakersSam - Speaker

Sam Judd is the CEO and co-founder of sustainable coastlines. Proven leader,inspiring speaker and problem solver. Sam left a legal career behind toconceptualise and deliver clever solutions to look after the places we love. A keensurfer, spear-fisher and father, he leads from the front and loves to get his handsdirty on the job.

Child and Youth Friendly Christchurch is a collective effort of government, localbusiness, community organisations and Christchurch residents, working togetherto make Christchurch the best city for children and young people to grow up in.Led by a group of local organisations and young people, Child and Youth FriendlyChristchurch uses the global UNICEF Child Friendly Cities framework to make realchange within our city, through tangible actions that improve children’s lives.Why Should Christchurch be Child and Youth Friendly?Children and young people use many services, but have little say in how things arerun. Most importantly, children and young people are the only group of oursociety (other than some prisoners) that do not have the right to vote. This meanstheir voices can be lost.With the rebuilding of Christchurch, this is a prime opportunity to get things rightfor our future generations. If we get things right for children, the benefits arethere for everyone.We believe being a Child and Youth Friendly City will bring our communitytogether to create tangible change for the future of Christchurch.