6 big ideas for the future of Parramatta presented at TEDxSydney Youth 2023
Six local and very talented young people got up on stage to pitch their big idea for the future of Parramatta at the recent TEDxSydney Youth: Future Creators event at Riverside Theatres.
The Parramatta LGA is home to some of Australia’s most diverse and dynamic young people and we recently invited them to share their big ideas at the recent TEDxSydney Youth event.
For the first time, TEDxSydney Youth came to Western Sydney and set up in the dynamic river City of Parramatta, hosting a major event at Riverside Theatres on 24 May. It featured many inspirational young speakers from Western Sydney and other parts of NSW, fuelled by ambition, under the theme of ‘Future Creators’. The theme pivots young people as not only inheriting the future — they’re creating it.
As part of this event, City of Parramatta held a Big Ideas Parramatta competition to find some incredible and motivated young people who have a great idea for the future of our City.
We received so many amazing entries and from these, we selected six talented young people to come up on stage at our Big Ideas Parramatta activation at TEDxSydney Youth and pitch their big idea to the crowd in 60 seconds. The person whose pitch got the loudest applause won a $500 Westfield gift voucher.
Aiden Jin, age 10
Aiden Jin, age 10
Aiden's big idea for Parramatta is about adopting sustainability practices to establish Parramatta as the world's first environmentally sustainable city.
Aiden Jin is a 10-year old boy in year five who is concerned about the future of this planet, especially climate change. He is passionate about Harry Potter, and enjoy imagining that Harry could fly to our cities and recite a magic word to make the temperature go down to the pre-industrial age.
Congratulations to Aiden for winning the Big Ideas Parramatta competition and a $500 Westfield voucher.
Hana Kazmi, age 20
Hana Kazmi, age 20
Hana's Big Idea for Parramatta is for our city to lead the environmental movement through better waste management.
Hana is currently a second-year nursing student who is exploring her passion for social justice. She has interned with the NSW Nurses & Midwives' union and is currently a member of the WSLHD Youth Council. Her love for nature has her hoping to bring about a garden space at The Y in Paramatta in collaboration with the YCW.
Anvi Karanjkar, age 13
Anvi Karanjkar, age 13
Anvi's big idea for Parramatta is around public transport being a solution to growing city needs and reducing traffic congestion.
Anvi is a year 8 student who is passionate about the latest technology and strongly advocates for gender equality. She is also a huge Marvel fan!
Syprus Lakisoe-Mapuna, age 21
Syprus Lakisoe-Mapuna, age 21
Syprus' big idea for Parramatta is about holding a youth festival in Parramatta to create connections between youth and influential adults.
Syprus Lakisoe-Mapuna has been a mental health & music advocate on TikTok since she was 16 with a following of over 90k. She has the pleasure of teaching & tutoring in schools around Australia, New Zealand & America. She has also made it her life’s mission to create opportunities for youth especially the pacific islander youth as that is her background.
Rebecca Ju, age 15
Rebecca Ju, age 15
Rebecca's big idea for Parramatta is about Australian Sign Language (AUSLAN) and how we need to address the lack of sign language-friendly environments in Parramatta public spaces.
Rebecca is a fifteen-year-old youth advocate, big dreamer and community leader who is devoted to helping the world become a better place. She works with Amnesty International, the United Nations Association of Australia and her local council in developing and implementing projects that support disadvantaged youth.
She is the founder of Youth 4 Difference, an organisation that encourages teenagers to engage with and support their local communities through volunteering. She is also in the process of developing a jewellery device that can detect date rape drugs in drinks in conjunction with the Univeristy of Sydney, University of NSW and Macquarie Uni. In her spare time she can be spotted with her nose in a sappy romance book or elbows deep in whatever she planned on baking that week. Finally, she would like to take this opportunity to remind you all that pineapples DO belong on pizza.
Mia Fogolin (age 16) and Laurice Behan (age 15)
Mia Fogolin (age 16) and Laurice Behan (age 15)
Mia & Laurice's big idea for Parramatta is about a shared umbrella system, PARRA-SOL, to keep people dry on the go and encourages compassion across the community.
