Meet the Mentors
The YEC mentors are older students (typically Yr 9-11), who have been a member of the YEC for at least one year. The YEC mentors' role is to welcome and guide the newer members continuing the inclusive and supportive culture of young people taking action for sustainability.
This has the added benefit of the mentors developing their leadership skills, whilst also transitioning these older members onto other things beyond the YEC.
This has the added benefit of the mentors developing their leadership skills, whilst also transitioning these older members onto other things beyond the YEC.
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Sharif
No. of years in the YEC: 3 What do you love about nature/the environment? I like taking care of the environment especially Native plants and animals. What environmental/sustainability projects, actions or groups have you been involved in? I have been involved in different projects in the past two years with YEC. My biggest project, which I am still bringing improvements to, was making a sustainable garden at my school that includes fruit trees and garden beds. Other small projects that I have worked on in the two years were making soft plastic bins for school, bringing bottles and straws recycling system to my school, and improving the recycle bin system. What has your YEC experience been like? What do you love about the YEC? I believe YEC is a brilliant program to meet new people with different ideas, to learn new experiences, to become a confident person and to find more information about the environment we live in. I am sad that this is my last year and I thank the YEC members a lot. Absolutely brilliant and well-organised program. |
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Jordan
No. of years in the YEC: 3 What do you love about nature/the environment? I love that it always teaches you something new. I always love learning something new about the environment, such as learning about different species of animals, plants and how they react in our ecosystems. I love the uniqueness of the native animals and plants. I like identifying these animals and plants in their natural habitat. One of my favourite locations is a wetland and I enjoy looking at waterways, and learning about the vital role they play. What environmental/sustainability projects, actions or groups have you been involved in? I have been involved in the YEC and, since 2018, the environment focus group at my school. I have been part of the Youth At The Zoo group and am currently involved in the Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park. What has your YEC experience been like? What do you love about the YEC? My experience in the YEC has been really good. I love that you get to meet new people that are like-minded, learning new stuff about the environment, how it connects you to groups/organisations/people outside of the YEC and sharing information that I have about the environment. I particularly liked the project which allowed me to involve and encourage the school community. |
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Chelsea
No. of years in YEC: 4 What do you love about nature/the environment? I love biology (it’s my favourite part of science). I enjoy knowing how things function and how things are created on a biological level. Understanding the science behind what you are witnessing brings an extra amount of beauty to what you are looking at. I also love creating artwork of my own and often draw the natural world (i.e. botanic drawings). What environmental/sustainability projects, actions or groups have you been involved in? As you have probably figured out, I am involved in YEC and this will be my 4th year in it. I also am part of my school's environmental focus group (EFG for short), Girl Guides and Gang Show. What has your YEC experience been like? What do you love about the YEC? The past 3 and a bit years have been wonderful. I can still remember my first meeting and feeling like I’ve found my people and I’m still here 3 years later. YEC is filled with such a lovely group of people and I’m very glad to have found them. My favourite part of YEC is the enthusiasm of the members, I love asking people about their projects and being told so many different things. |
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Emily
No. of years in YEC: 2 What do you love about nature/the environment? I am passionate about the environment because it is beautiful and something that needs protecting. Nature is a precious thing that we rely on and I enjoy having the ability to have a voice about my passion for the environment. What environmental/sustainability projects, actions or groups have you been involved in? So far, I have only been involved in the Youth Environment Council as a group, but I have been involved in a large environmental protect. My project last year on protecting my local beach from industrial development was a huge issue within my community and a group effort with a few other people. This is still an ongoing fight though and I will not be giving up. What has your YEC experience been like? What do you love about the YEC? I love the YEC because it a group of fun, passionate young people who are like-minded to me and some will be friends for life. My YEC experience last year was fantastic even though covid got in the way of meetings. I am the most inexperienced mentor but I hope to be a good role model for younger members! |
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Grace
No. of years in YEC: 3 What do you love about nature/the environment? I love that the environment provides so much adventure and happiness to the world. It has given us the world and everything in it, we are lucky enough to live in it every day. I love that there are places we can go to explore and feel free in, I love the beauty I am able to see, and I love the creatures that come from it. What environmental/sustainability projects, actions or groups have you been involved in? I have been a member of the YEC for two years and have enjoyed every minute of it. From the YEC I have created multiple projects, each has focused on a different issue that was current at the time. What has your YEC experience been like? What do you love about the YEC? I have made so many close friends from this experience. I felt like I truly belonged in a group of like-minded people, who didn’t judge me for trying to save the environment. I struggled with this issue living on Kangaroo Island as it mainly farmers. I love that we all get an opportunity to be ourselves and share our projects and views. This year will be my third as a member and my second as a mentor. YEC stays with you for years. I truly expected to only participate for one year, but there is something about YEC that makes you want to come back. |
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