Image: From top left: Roydon Ng (Vinnies Metropolitan Schools Engagement Officer), Russell Smith (Vinnies Katoomba Conference President), Chris Nolan and Ketaki Wasnikar (Vinnies Schools Engagement Officer), local youth with Cumberland Council Mayor Ola Hamed, Roydon Ng, Willem Booker (Vinnies Member Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator), Ketaki Wasnika, Alysha Wong-O’Connor (Vinnies Metropolitan Youth Engagement Officer), Faith Jeruto (Student Placement Volunteer at Harris Park Vinnies Support Centre), Gilroy Catholic College – Castle Hill Vinnies Vans Team on new Cumberland Vans Service with teacher Sean Finucane, Fairine Arkhadre (Vinnies Castle Hill Retail Shop Youth Volunteer).

🌿 Blue Mountains: Inspiring Change in Katoomba 🌿
The Metropolitan Schools Team kicked off Youth Week at the Katoomba Youth Expo, where they sparked conversations about the role of Vinnies in the community. ✨ With over 200 young people in attendance, the event was a great platform for the team to share how Vinnies Support Centres and Conferences are vital in supporting those in need. 💙

In collaboration with school staff, they also discussed an exciting upcoming Vinnies Expo with Katoomba Public School, a new initiative that would help connect youth and families with Vinnies and empower them to take action. 🚀 The Vinnies Expo would offer a further opportunity for students in Blue Mountains Council students to engage directly with Vinnies’ work and explore how they could contribute to local outreach efforts. 💡

🌸 Fairfield: A Day of Celebration and Awareness 🌸
The team then headed to Fairfield Council for “Bring It On”, where they participated in a Youth Festival that showcased local artistic talent and community volunteering opportunities. 🌟 The event saw high school students from across the region learning about the impact of Vinnies’ work through Conferences and Support Centres. 💬

The day allowed students to dive deep into the mission of Vinnies and understand how they could play an active role in making a difference. 🙌 The team’s involvement reinforced the message that youth can take part in creating positive change and shaping their community. 💙

🚐 Cumberland: Building a Legacy of Service 🚐
Cumberland was next on the list, where the Metropolitan Schools Team was front and centre at Granville for Youth Homelessness Matters Day (16 April). 🌟 Over 120 young people joined the conversation on homelessness, and the Schools Team helped facilitate these important discussions. 💡 They gained insight about Vinnies Support Centres, Conferences, and the Cumberland Van, which had been born from initial conversations with the team years ago. 🚐

The event also achieved a partnership for Busking for Vinnies in Merrylands, strengthening the relationship between Vinnies and Cumberland Council. 🎶Cumberland Youth Week provided also the opportunity to meet with Mayor Ola Hamed for discussions about addressing youth homelessness, highlighting the team’s ability to spark innovation and create fresh opportunities for local youth to get involved.🎸

“Our relationship with Cumberland Council has been a key to launching exciting initiatives like the Cumberland Van and Busking for Vinnies. It’s a partnership that’s growing strong and making an impact,” said Roydon Ng. 💙

🌊 The Entrance: Community Connections for a Greater Cause 🌊
The Metropolitan Schools Team also ventured to The Entrance, where they engaged with local youth through Central Coast Council to discuss the importance of service and how they could contribute to Vinnies’ mission. 👫 At this event, students learned how they could volunteer at Vinnies’ Support Centres and become part of local Conferences. 🌱The team’s involvement in these conversations is helping to cultivate the next generation of young leaders committed to social justice. ✨

“Each conversation is a chance to plant a seed of change,” shared Roydon Ng, reflecting on the power of youth in shaping a better future. 🌱

🌿 Castle Hill: The Future of Youth Engagement 🌿
Lastly, the team wrapped up Youth Week at Castle Hill, where they led discussions on how young people could get involved with Vinnies in their local communities. 💬✨ The team worked closely with The Hills Shire Council’s Youth Volunteer Army to promote Vinnies’ work, encouraging students to become members and volunteers. 🌟 The event was a perfect way to bring the Youth Week celebrations to a close, with the team reinforcing the message that youth can make a real difference today. 💙

💙 A Bright Future Ahead 💙
NSW Youth Week 2025 demonstrated the incredible potential of young people when they are empowered to serve and lead. The Metropolitan Schools Team’s efforts have paved the way for future Vinnies initiatives, with high school students now actively supporting Vinnies Conferences, Support Centres, and Vans across the region. 🌍 The future is indeed bright, and with youth at the forefront, Vinnies’ mission of service, justice, and hope will continue to grow and thrive. 🌟

The NSW State Youth Committee also extends  a big thank you for all of our young volunteers and members who have made incredible contributions to their community. See their message of thanks to youth volunteers at https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PyPoRkrzTQ8.

A Vinnies Youth Week Spiritual Reflection is also available in the Metropolitan Schools Newsletter for Term 2 at https://youthnsw.vinnies.org.au/schoolnewsletters. The support of the Metropolitan Member and Youth Community Engagement Team, and the NSW Members and Volunteer Experience Team is also highly appreciated for NSW Youth Week.