Collective Imagining
What kind of future do you imagine? FYA’s Collective Imagining project is imagining a powerful vision for 2050.
Why Collective Imagining?
Right now we are existing in someone else’s vision.
Our communities are bearing the brunt of an economic and political system that puts profit above people and the planet. For most of us, the intersecting housing, mental health, inequality, and climate crises are impossible to ignore.
But the systems that shape our lives are ours to create, and ours to change. It’s time for us to dream up something better, and collectively paint a picture of the future we want.
That’s where Collective Imagining comes in – bringing together 50 dreamers between 16-25 years old to co-create a bold, aspirational vision for 2050, to use the power of movements to turn that dream into reality.
What happened at Collective Imagining?
Collective Imagining kicked off with our first gathering on Friday 27 May – Sunday 29 May where participants were split into two groups to learn key skills in imagining the future through speculative fiction, poetry and storytelling.
The dreamers who attended that gathering designied and coordinated their own Collective Imagining events with other young people in the months after. Each young person was provided with a small grant of $500 as well as coaching and support to host their own workshops.
On Thursday 1 – Sunday 4 December we held our second gathering and welcomed additional dreamers to help weave our vision and strategy for a new future together.
Early this year we ran workshops, webinars and surveys to reach a total of 650 young people to back the Dreamers to mobilise and organise their movement to win campaigns for change.
With the insights Dreamers have gathered over the course of 12-months, their collective vision has been launched through a Zine called, ‘Looking to the Skies: A Constellation of Dreams from Collective Imagining.’
Frequently Asked Questions
In February and March of 2023, we ran a Vision for 2050 Survey to gather experiences, ideas and insights from young people across the country. We invited young people to share their thoughts on the kind of future they envisioned, and entered them into a draw to win a $250 gift voucher and a $250 donation to a youth-led organization of their choice. We are pleased to announce that S Choudhary from postcode 5064 won the draw and thank all who participated on their contribution to shaping a better future for all.
Collective Imagining is inspired by ActionStation Aotearoa. Whether you consider yourself a fully fledged activist or have never been to a protest this program will fire you up to make real and lasting change. Dreamers will learn from poets, activists and movement builders to:
- Learn about how movements get started and succeed: from Black Lives Matter and LandBack to the School Strikes 4 Climate campaigns
- Understand what power is, who has it and how to build it (*Hint: power is key to successful movements)
- Tap into your imagination to create a vision with other young people
- Develop your facilitation skills and host your own event or workshop with other young people (we’ll give you the $ to make this happen)
- Build your skills in campaign planning and organising – to turn that vision into a reality.
We work to make all our events as accessible to as many people as possible. If you have any access requirements not covered below, please email Laura O’Connell Rapira (they/she/ia) at laura.oc.rapira@fya.org.au or book in time to chat via zoom or phone here.
Accessibility at the venues
All our gatherings are held at wheelchair accessible venues.
Auslan Interpreters
Auslan Interpreters can be provided for gatherings.
Single and all gender neutral bathrooms
We will have single and all gender bathrooms and showers to cater to the wonderful cultural and gender diversity that exists in our community.
Covering costs
All travel, accommodation and meals are covered by FYA. We will also cover childcare, support workers, companion animal care and lost wages (e.g. if you have to cancel any shift work to attend the event).
How will you ensure this program is COVID safe?
Prior to gatherings FYA will send a welcome pack to all participants which will include Rapid-Antigen-Tests and N-95 face masks.
To be able to attend any in person event with FYA participants must:
- Be well, and not present with cold or flu-like symptoms.
- Not be waiting on COVID-19 test results.
- Not have been in close contact with someone who has confirmed COVID-19, until receiving a negative COVID-19 test result
- Not be directed to isolate by the public health authorities e.g. recently returned travelers or people who have been in hot spots
- Have a negative RAT test within 24 hours of attending the gathering
Developing COVID-19 symptoms during the gatherings
If you develop any symptoms of COVID-19 during the gatherings, you need to immediately let trainers and mentors know. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath and loss or change in sense of smell or taste.
If you do develop symptoms during the gatherings we will need to ask you to put on a face mask, isolate you at the venue and we will arrange for you to be safely transported back home, where you’ll need to get a COVID test. You’ll only be able to attend the program again after receiving a negative test result.
General tips and tricks for being COVIDSafe at Collective Imagining:
- Check-in at the venues by scanning the QR codes
- Hand sanitizer will be available, sanitize and wash your hands frequently.
- Ask permission before hugging or touching people, respect people if they want to keep 1.5m distance.
- Don’t share drink bottles or drinking cups
- Use a facemask when social distancing can’t be maintained, if you want
If you have questions or want more information about Collective Imagining you can email them through to Laura O’Connell-Rapira (they/she/ia) at laura.oc.rapira@fya.org.au book in a time to chat via zoom or phone here.
The lead facilitators of the first gathering will be Larrakia poet and facilitator Laniyuk and FYA’s Executive Director of Movement Building, Laura O’Connell Rapira (they/she/ia).
Other trainers and mentors will include:
A selection panel made up of FYA staff will be responsible for reviewing all of the applications.
We are especially interested in working with young people with diverse lived experiences of systemic injustice e.g. First Nations, migrants of colour and refugees, disabled, LGBTQIA+, young parents, young people who live in rural and regional areas, young people with lived experience of the justice system, foster care or mental health system as well as folks who come from low-income backgrounds.
The Body Shop has generously donated to this project. The money they’ve gifted will be used to deliver grants and provide travel and training scholarships to dreamers. Donkeywheel Trust has also given money to this project for the purposes of understanding how we can facilitate important conversations about the future at scale.
We’re always on the look-out for donors who want to support Collective Imagining in the future to remain free. If this is you, please contact our partnerships team at partnerships@fya.org.au
If you are a skilled strategist, storyteller, campaigner or community organiser then we’d love to have you share your expertise by leading a workshop for our students. If you are a slam poet, rapper, writer, singer or designer who uses their artistic talents to change the world then we’d love to work with you. We’d also love to hear from teachers, youth workers and educators about how we can make our sessions as interactive and engaging as possible. Get in touch with laura.oc.rapira@fya.org.au.