YOUNG people from across the region will have their voice heard at a local youth summit on Friday and will use the opportunity to tackle the big issues that matter to them.
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The meeting will be held at The Youthie, which summit facilitators Benson Saulo and Marc Sutherland say is a testament to what can happen when the visions of the community’s youth are acted upon.
About 50 young people from all walks of life will discuss issues such as bullying, peer pressure, mental health, drugs and alcohol, along with investigating potential solutions.
“As facilitators, we have this underlying belief that the knowledge is within the group and young people themselves are the experts of their own experience,” Mr Saulo said.
“So, for them to be able to bring their own authentic self and their own voice to talk about these issues is pretty cool.”
Mr Sutherland said they worked hard to get a good cross-section of young people of different ages and different experiences.
“We especially wanted young people that have connections to some of these issues we’re talking about,” he said.
“We didn’t only want the young people who are already engaged, we want some of the young people who are not necessary en- gaged, because their voice is just as valid as the next person,” Mr Saulo said.
Any outcomes identified in the summit will go into the 2016-2020 Tamworth Youth Strategic Plan, which Mr Sutherland said would put the visions and desires of the region’s youth into action.
“The last thing we want to do is hold a summit that achieves nothing, and that’s where the strategic plan comes in.”
