Young people in this town often get a bad rap.
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They are sometimes called lazy, entitled and selfish.
But last week Katherine Times had the opportunity to meet two young people in the Katherine community who are making real change.
Leah Sharp and Phoebe Hooper, who represent Katherine on the NT Youth Round Table, have their fingers on the pulse of this town.
They have identified some of the major challenges plaguing youth in Katherine, and better yet, have done something about it.
The pair have shown their peers that young people can make a difference to the life and culture of our small outback community.
And we bet there are more young people out there with the same capacity for change.
Community engagement teaches young people about the world and their place in it.
It is a chance to interact with other like-minded young people of varying backgrounds and opinions.
The plight of many youth programs in town, is that they are not run by young people and all too often we see an event planned with minimal attendance.
Research shows that peer led activities have a higher rate of attendance and engagement.
It is time for our youth to step up to the plate and push their own agendas.
Let’s see more campaigns, activities and policy driven by youth.
Youth need and deserve a stronger voice in our municipality.
After school students often leave for greener pastures – bigger towns and cities where there are more opportunities.
Some never return.
Perhaps if youth were given more influence in our community and a bigger say on how issues in Katherine affect them, it may foster a larger sense of ownership and belonging.
Historically some of most radical change has come from a small group of people committed to making their community a better place to live.
Together youth in Katherine have the power to identify and discuss problems in our community and devise solutions.
All we need to do is show them that they can.
After all, decisions are made by those who show up.
– Lydia Lynch
