‘The Power of Activism’ continues to have impact with Festival and streaming audiences in Australia and around the world. The film shines a timely and positive light on a group of young people who are challenging how governments, major companies and communities think about the environment, sustainability and the choices we all make every day.
I am providing a free and exclusive learning program for 7 secondary schools from across Australia ; in QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS, SA and 2 schools in WA.
This year has focused on the recruitment and engagement of the schools and the planning for project delivery in 2025. The program uses the documentary to activate real-world and project-based learning. The educational impact strategy is funded by Shark Island Foundation.
Additional funding is being sought for a campaign to launch the educational resource to ensure maximum impact in secondary schools across Australia.
The film has been screened to the select teachers and students from each school who will now develop their own activism project/initiative that will be realised in their community. By the end of this school year 2024, each group of students will have chosen the project they will work on and teachers will have a plan in place for project commencement in Term 1 with completion and presentation by end of Term 2. Michelle will mentor each of the school groups through their projects and filming process and attend each school for the presentation and launch. Additionally, each student group will make a 3-5 minute film of their project which will be shown at a screening of ‘The Power of Activism’ to be hosted by Michelle in each community. In collaboration with ATOM (Australian Teachers of Screen Media) the projects will then be built into an educational resource for schools nationwide via a wide range of teacher networks and platforms, launching in 2026.
Projects the schools are working on include : building wildlife corridors, planting fruit & vegetable gardens with plants that attract birds and bugs thus creating healthy local ecosystems, running events annually that educate and activate on local conservation issues, running ‘how to conserve energy’ events with sustainable practices, establishing interactive recycling and upcycling systems that capture waste streams, just to name a few …
At a time when there is much in the world to feel overwhelmed and helpless about, this learning program inspires teachers and students to ‘Get Involved’ while cultivating hope and meaning. Health and wellbeing is a key focus for our children and grandchildren ; engaging them through project-based learning and connecting them with community and nature is key. The health of the environment, the economy and humanity is one and the same. Think Globally, Act Locally !
Recent feedback at a United Nations screening for high school students in Stanford, USA :
“ The Power of Activism shows what can be done and gives us hope ! ”
The film will also be joining FanForce in 2025 where it will tour nationally and overseas inspiring and engaging communities to ‘Get Involved’ all around the world.
The heart of the film lies in my Upper Hunter country town community Dungog in more ways than one and I am very proud to tell the continually growing story of our community’s wonderful work for positive proactive change for people and planet.
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