I wonder …

Young Voices (Youth Council) Co-Design Workshop

On October 5, three youth and young adults from Living Faith Church, as well as others from Yarra Yarra Presbytery, attended a youth council codesign workshop at SCOTS in Heidelberg.

The workshop was a positive experience where participants enjoyed open sharing of ideas and excitement for a youth council.

The opportunity for learning about church structure was valued and there was a keen sense that those involved could make a difference.

All the youth who attended wanted to be a part of the council idea which has been renamed YASC – Yarra/Youth Advisory Strategy Committee. The group enjoyed the possibility that YASC can at once mean:

Yarra Advisory Strategy Committee

Youth Advisory Strategy Committee

Young Adults Strategy Committee

The flexible multi meaning name, YASC, said “why ask”, reflected a common theme and desire of the group to be fluid and adaptable in practical considerations such as capacity, structure and content.

For example, participants discussed the benefits of a core group of regular committed committee members but also wanted the YASC to be open to other youth who wished to contribute occasionally when time, topic or location allowed.

Similarly, it was agreed that YASC would meet monthly, but that the frequency of meetings although based on a monthly expectation would change depending on content, capacity and consensus.

One youth noted, “If it is life giving, we want more meetings.”

The inaugural YASC is scheduled for November 30.