VCE Achievers

 

Jordan Brown – Belmont High School

Jordan is involved in a range of organisations and groups whose aims are to improve the lives of young people and, in particular, young women. ‘My main passion is international community development. I know there are people less fortunate than me and that I have the ability to help them; so when I can that is a good thing.’

School-based achievements

Jordan has been a 40 Hour Famine group leader since she was 15 and has worked extensively with younger students to raise funds for World Vision.

One achievement she is proud of is World Challenge in which she collaborated with a team of fellow students over 20 months to plan an expedition to Cambodia and Vietnam. During the 28-day stay in those countries she helped to build a library from scratch with a local Cambodian youth group.

Community-based achievements

In 2009 Jordan represented Geelong at a two-day Australian Youth Forum in Canberra – an opportunity for young people to discuss significant issues affecting them. Their responses and suggestions were compiled and used by the Commonwealth Government to develop a new strategy for providing support to the youth of Australia.

The Geelong branch of the Zonta Club (an international feminist group) has recognised Jordan as a significant ‘Young Woman in Public Affairs’. There are several ways in which she has demonstrated her credentials for this recognition. For example, as an ambassador for Make Poverty History Jordan trained in advocacy before travelling across Victoria talking to hundreds of people about the impacts of global poverty. The trip culminated in a visit to parliament in Canberra with 55 000 signatures on a petition to increase Australia’s aid from 0.3% GPI to 0.7%. ‘I was delighted when the motion was passed through the House of Representatives,’ she commented.

Jordan’s efforts to save the environment include her participation in Powershift – a youth-driven conference targeting climate change. This led to her becoming a founding member of the Geelong Schools Enviro Network who have created a website and are planning school tree-planting days. As part of the Youth Impact program facilitated by the International Women’s Development Agency, she introduced Fairtrade chocolate to her local greengrocer. It sold out quickly!

Youth United for Equality – founded by Jordan and other members of the Global Youth Impact program – provide opportunities that empower and educate young people about social justice issues. Its focus is on women in society and they are currently working to promote young women’s health in Victoria by publicising referrals and information for youth health services.

DreamCatcher – a program of the Reach Foundation – is matching Jordan with a mentor from the United Nations so that she can start to build networks and work towards her dream of becoming a project manager for an international development agency in the future.

Future

Jordan would like to study for an Arts degree at Monash University, majoring in international studies and business. Her reason for choosing this university is because it has a centre in Italy and Jordan would like to go there to practise her Italian.

Patrick Clark – Bendigo Senior Secondary College

Patrick is an advocate for social justice and believes that providing people with educational opportunities is fundamental to overcoming social and economic disadvantages.

School-based achievements

As SRC President Patrick has been a driving force for many of his school’s SRC initiatives. A key project this year has been to raise funds for an orphanage school in Uganda. He coordinated a group that worked with the principal of the Ugandan school to identify key areas that needed support, such as new text books and classroom materials. ‘The lack of resources is the biggest barrier to learning for these students and I’m glad we could help in a tangible way. The next step is to establish pen pal relationships to allow students to exchange ideas and increase cultural ties between the two schools.’

Last year Patrick organised his school to donate leftover books and school supplies to an Eritrean refugee camp. ‘It is astounding what we throw out at the end of the year, so I thought we could put it to good use. Civil war has forced these people out of their communities, causing disruption to the children’s education. I hope this will help make a difference to the lives of these displaced kids.’ As a response to this generosity, the Eritrean Humanitarian Association of Australia plan to make a documentary on the journey of the donated supplies to the refugee camp.

Patrick has been active in improving the school’s international student program by encouraging a stronger sense of belonging and inclusion for international students. As a result there has been a greater multicultural representation in the SRC and at other school activities.

Patrick has also been a motivating force for many of the school’s other fundraising initiatives including 40 Hour Famine, World Vision and Harmony Day.

Community-based achievements

For the last two years Patrick has been a Board member of the Goldfields Local Learning & Employment Network. His role is to provide a young person’s perspective on educational opportunities for local youths. He contributes ideas and feedback on key issues and has participated in a parliamentary enquiry on gifted and talented students.

Patrick is also on the B Central review and branding committee, a Bendigo Council initiative to regenerate a community space for Bendigo’s youth and young entrepreneurs.

Patrick was selected as one of the top five students from a delegation of 250 at a Harvard University People to People Global Leadership Summit. He presented to the delegation his community action plan to establish a sister school in Germany. ‘I met many like-minded students. We all had similar ideals and passions despite being from different countries. It was inspiring to see the universal importance of education.’

Future

Next year Patrick would like to study for a double degree in Commerce and Economics at the Australian National University. Eventually he would like to head-up a not-for-profit organisation or work for the World Bank. ‘I really want to use my economics training to ensure that aid money is put to the best and most efficient use possible.’