CoLab

A platform connecting a global community of young people, empowered with a nexus skills and experiences to act on their passions in a way that catalyses positive change. Ensuring we not only survive, but thrive together as a global community without borders to education.

We are a team of teenage pioneers who believe in the potential of young people. By empowering youth with the experiences, networks and skills for the future, we aim to build a community of young people and catalyse positive change at unprecedented rates. Doing so through community events, from ‘art alleys’, to ‘music festivals for social change’, generating a conversation around solving global issues in an innovative and relevant way & running touring in person workshops, online courses and webinars to bring youth around the world skills for the future, while building an online portfolio of skills. Focussing on multidisciplinary skills such as collaboration, communication, digital literacy, critical thinking and innovative problem solving. The workshops allow disadvantaged communities with limited internet access to innovative education, while also providing collaborative environments and opportunities to build genuine relationships. The courses and webinars go hand in hand to teach skills taught by young professionals at the convenience of the user. Allowing them to learn in an environment & time that suits them, while also being able to interact with the teacher through webinars. Finally, we will also have an open collaboration platform so people around the world can build connections and work together to solve local and global issues. This idea provides both technological and physical solutions to bring relevant skills to disadvantaged youth, while also promoting in developed communities a global outlook to solve global problems. By generating a conversation and building a community through creative events, empowering young people with key skills through innovative & creative workshops, courses and webinars, and allowing collaboration on ideas through an online platform, we are creating a global community of young people who are empowered to act on their passions by taking on world challenges and equipped with skills to succeed in their futures.   

According to the Foundation for Young Australians by 2030, automation, globalisation and flexibility will change what we do in every job. Educational institutions and models currently in place are not equipping young people - particularly those from low socio-economic backgrounds - with the skills and experiences that already are so vital in the workforce, let alone the workforce of the future. Further, young people are not fully aware of the changes facing jobs in the future and don't have access to an education that focuses on technical, social, enterprise and critical thinking skills

The Australian HSC is encountering its first curricular change in 16 years. Thus, systematic change takes more time than we have. Simon Sinek Identified that young people want to work with purpose and make an impact, highlighting the importance of the relationships and developing skills to reach their potential. Further, Jim Shelton identified that creating ideal environments can bring students from the 50th percentile to the 95th(SAT). A platform fostering connections and facilitating collaboration, while offering in person workshops, online courses and webinars taught by professionals, allows a scalable solution addressing both Shelton & Sinek's concerns working alongside current systems.

1. Increase access to quality educational services for young people, particularly from low socio-economic backgrounds. Provided through in person workshops touring nationwide & globally, online courses and webinars.

2. Empower young people to launch social change initiatives/enterprises. Enterprise based workshops teach students key skills in relevant environments (e.g startup workspace) while solving real community problems. Promoting social change and empowering young people with relevant skills can catalyse change globally.

3. Increase youth employment rates. All the services mentioned, as well as the relationships built aim to equip users with 21st century skills and prepare them for the workforce of the future.

Keeping track of amount of students taught at workshops & collecting data regarding online services accessed. - Educate 500,000 young people by 2020

*At least 50% from a low socio economic background

Track implementation of initiatives through enterprise workshops - Help launch 100,000 social change initiatives by 2020

Analyse the amount of services accessed and its correlation to employment as measured by jobs added to their online portfolio. - 95% of users who seek employment will be employed in some capacity before the ago of 18 or within 8 months

A lot of relevant content out there is either overpriced and aimed at an older audience, or is very one dimensional. Meaning that they only provide content. The proposed solution delivers relevant content by relevant people, while also providing opportunities to network, and collaborate on ideas, putting their skills to work for social change. This solution aims to use technology to ideally help users realise their purpose/passions and facilitate their development to act on them collaboratively. While maintaining physical aspects of engagement and education 

Technological aspects provide accessibility for all individuals including those with a disability to learn 21st century skills. While acknowledging the importance of face to face interactions and opportunities to build relationships & skills that will be brought primarily to low socio-economic communities. Using data analysis we would be able to bring users courses and content that they want. While also allowing for networking & collaboration through the platform software, would bring relevant content to individuals, and allow to build the platform as a community of young people with a voice. Allowing us to develop content addressing concerns of users.

Initially focussing on Australia and countries in South-East Asia/the Pacific the primary tool used would be the in person workshops that would tour to disadvantaged communities to deliver content. This is as it is recognised a quality internet connection may not be consistently available throughout disadvantaged communities, however online services will also be available. Ideally we will be able to deliver the services to low socio-economic communities for little to no cost, as cash flow will be obtained from services being provided through a membership based system or individual services in other areas around Australia, NZ, etc. 

We aim to ensure a positive cash flow throughout the initial stages through partnerships, as well as in person workshops and online courses/webinars in Urban/Suburban communities. Partnering with similar organisations and companies would allow us to both build our following and test our content through joint events, while also providing monetary (partnership or event ticketing) or in kind benefits (partnership). Running initially in person workshops, then offering online content in developed communities would help us gain valuable feedback from young people, bring in revenue and test different types of workshops and courses. 

1. Primarily funding is the key limiting factor, as the team consists of high school and uni students.
2. Team currently has limited tech knowledge to develop a comprehensive website and software that provides all the services we intend to
3. Travelling to different communities may be tough logistically
4. At the moment we are a team of students with a member who is 17, while we consider this a strength and not a limiting factor, legalities may need to be considered.
5. Laws of nations we may operate in

Working on this idea over the past year as a 17 year old student, funding, resources and expertise has been hard to come by. Ultimately I want to help build a global community that is educated with skills for the future, empowered with the ability to make a positive difference and connected through collaboration to open up our worlds to limitless possibilities. I want to learn and grow personally, and I believe Solve can help me act on my passion for education and my desire to change the world by improving the lives of others.

*Mentioning main mentors and Co-Founder as we aren't registered

1. Olivia Mitchell - Co-Founder
2. Summer Howarth - Director of Learning @ Education Changemakers 
3. Dean Delia - GM of Events @ FYA
4. Marina Paronetto - Senior Innovation Manager @PwCDigital
5. Hannah Wandel - CEO @ Country to Canberra
6. Jana Clyde - Director @ Wisdom Learning

General Assembly, Udacity, Coursea. *We believe in collaboration and dont view people as competitors