Giving Young People a Voice on Climate Change
When it comes to tackling climate change, young people have some of the clearest, most passionate voices. Recently, two of our College leaders, Head Girl Annika and Deputy Head Girl Scarlett, were invited to share their perspectives in a youth-focused podcast project run by RTRFM.
The project, led by producer Danielle Raffaele, was designed to capture “vox pops”, short, authentic interviews with students across WA. It will also feature interviews with Western Australian experts, advocates and activists.
The series will take listeners from the Kimberley to the Great Southern, exploring the existential threats to WA’s climate and the change makers working on solutions.
How Did This Come About?
The connection came through Danielle, who is no stranger to Santa Maria. Over the last few years, she has choreographed our IGSSA Hip Hop dance pieces and loves working with our students. When RTRFM received a grant to produce a climate podcast for Spotify and iTunes, she knew our girls would bring thoughtful, insightful voices to the project.
As Danielle explains, “I know Santa Maria students take great pride in their community, and I thought they would have interesting insights on our changing climate.”
Empowering Young Voices
This opportunity highlights the power of young women to influence social change, something that lies at the heart of our College’s vision. By stepping up to share their views, Annika and Scarlett are:
- Developing confidence in using their voices beyond the classroom.
- Demonstrating stewardship, one of our key student attributes – caring for God’s creation, especially the environment.
- Engaging in critical thinking about one of the biggest challenges facing their generation.
As one of our teachers, Marissa Gangemi, who coordinated between the girls and Danielle, explained, “This aligns so strongly with our vision of empowering young women. The girls are encouraged to use their voice with confidence, contribute to the common good, and engage in conversations that matter beyond the school community.”
Student Voices on Climate Change
Annika summed up her feelings beautifully in her interview. “I wanted to share that climate change is a growing issue that whilst sometimes feels like it is not affecting us, is gradually impacting the planet more and more. I wanted to share that everyone can take small actions and help create a big change.”
Scarlett added another powerful perspective. “I think it’s really important that young people have a voice about climate change because we’re the ones who are going to live with the long-term consequences. Even if we don’t know all the science or facts, we still feel the fear, the uncertainty, and the hope for something better, and that emotional connection matters just as much as knowledge, because caring deeply is what pushes people to create real change.”
Together, their voices remind us that knowledge and passion go hand in hand when it comes to inspiring meaningful action.
The Experience
For Annika and Scarlett, the recording session was both exciting and memorable. Danielle hopes the experience gave them the chance not just to speak about climate change, but to reflect on their role in shaping a better future.
“I hope the experience provided an opportunity to think critically about what is a pressing issue facing their generation – climate change. I also hope they had fun! Radio is an exciting medium, and it will be a lovely memento of their time and contributions to the Santa Maria community.”
The podcast, titled This Changes Everything will launch on 23 September. It will air on RTRFM and be available on Spotify and iTunes, connecting our students’ voices to a much wider audience. It is a proud reminder that Santa Maria girls are not only learning in the classroom but are also stepping out into the world as leaders, collaborators, and changemakers.
- ClimateChange, EmpoweringYoungWomen, Featured, SantaMariaCollege, SocialChange, StudentLeadership, StudentVoice, Sustainability, YouthClimateAction
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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