Abstract

Re-Imagining Your Neighbourhood is a consultation, visioning and education project hosted by Imagine the Future Inc.  Eighty secondary students are participating in a sixteen week project to imagine a socially and environmentally sustainable future for their neighbourhood.  The students are exploring ways of creatively and constructively contributing to their neighbourhood in ways that empower them personally and encourage social and environmental health.   In designing the project we are hoping to further develop models of education and consultation that enable young people to actively participate in creating healthy futures. 

This article draws attention to the role of futures education in re-vitalising social confidence and vision.  Findings from a 1997 pilot project called "Re-Imagining Sunshine" are explored in support of a futures education model that fosters links to the local community and policy making processes.  It is suggested that tangible achievements can be made at a local level where there is a high degree of relevance to the lives of young people and opportunities for meaningful social engagement.   Finally the design of "Re-Imagining Your Neighbourhood" is outlined as a model for integrating futures processes in to mainstream education and community consultation initiatives.

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Author / Organisation Notes

Email Carmen Stewart: futurescapes@optusnet.com.au (last checked 26 July 2004)

When she wrote this paper Carmen Stewart was working as a consultant with Imagine the Future Inc. where she was involved in the design and facilitation of Re-Imagining Your Neighbourhood.  Prior to this she was involved in cross-cultural education projects, youth housing and youth advocacy.  She has since completed her Masters of Applied Science in Social Ecology at the University of Western Sydney - Hawkesbury, and now works as a futures education consultant. Contact Carmen at futurescapes@bigpond.com.

Imagine the Future Inc. is a Melbourne (Australia) based community organisation dedicated to the creation of a society in which we live more harmoniously with ourselves, with one another and with our natural environment.  SSome of the work of Imagine the Future Inc can be seen at www.ecoversity.org.au.