Youth in Philanthropy

This week the Youth in Philanthropy team visited three environmentally focused charities. Having been tasked with the role of allocating $10,000 to our chosen charities, we soon discovered this was going to be a challenging process.

In making our decisions, our team must take into account the priorities that we committed to earlier in the year, being the need to make zero-emissions achievable by providing education and opportunities to the community.

Friends of the Earth is a not-for-profit organisation working for a socially equitable and environmentally sustainable future. We were shown around their volunteer run co-op that provides affordable low packaged foods, health, and cleaning products. Their focus is on making healthy living accessible. We were also treated to morning tea in their café, another feature of their amazing volunteer-run service.

Beyond Zero Emissions is based in the city, amongst many other community-based services. They impressed us with the impact they have had on creating change through their independent and innovative research solutions demonstrating that a zero-emissions Australia is both achievable and affordable.

Climateworks, another city-based provider, was established by the Myer Foundation and Monash University in 2009. Their presentation allowed us to understand their work in the field. As an expert, independent adviser, they are committed to helping the transition to net zero emissions by 2050.

Our team must now decide how to allocate these funds between the three services. This will not be easy but we look forward to sharing our decision.