By fostering leadership and collaboration in climate action, the Trust is supporting rangatahi to become confident, connected changemakers — empowering our communities to build a sustainable future.
Recognising that rangatahi/youth are our future decision-makers, Community Trust South welcomed the Invercargill City Youth Council’s environmental committee to a taster workshop focused on decarbonisation and climate action.
Prior to attending, the Youth Councillors had already identified the power of collaboration and were actively seeking to engage with local organisations committed to environmental sustainability. The workshop provided an ideal platform to foster these connections and reinforced the belief of the Youth Councillors that every individual has a role to play in shaping a sustainable future.
Inspired by the session, the Youth Councillors shared their plans to develop a guide for rangatahi, offering low-level recommendations of small, actionable steps that collectively contribute to meaningful climate impact over time.
Jess Domigan, Community Trust South’s Strategy, Policy and Insights Manager, welcomed their contributions:
“Rangatahi are our future decision-makers, so sharing and learning together benefits our whole community.”
Gemma Crawford, Engagement and Partnerships Officer at Invercargill City Council, who also attended the workshop, was impressed by their confidence and insight:
“It gave me a renewed sense of hope that our climate, and world, is safe in their hands going into the future.”
Mrs Domigan agreed, “the enthusiasm and collective knowledge shared by the Youth Councillors was a powerful reminder that the voices of our rangatahi are crucial - especially in our climate change journey.”
By providing educational opportunities in the climate action space, Community Trust South is helping to foster sustainable leadership and build resilient future communities.
