In the wake of the Australian Black Summer bushfires, drought, floods and a global pandemic … young people across the region are grappling with the worry and uncertainty of how climate change will impact on their future. 

Enter the “How on Earth” project, a unique collaboration bringing together workshops and theatre to support youth to feel more resilient and empowered to engage locally with climate change and ecological decline.

This partnership between The Joyality Project and Byron Youth Theatre ran during 2020 and 2021 partially supported by a $30,000 "Increasing Resilience to Climate Change" grant from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment.

Young people from eight high schools across Northern NSW were provided interactive, resilience-building workshops by The Joyality Project alongside original performances by Byron Youth Theatre.

Youth Leadership Training in Climate Resilience

At the heart of “How on Earth” is The Joyality Project’s youth leader training to support participants to develop personal strategies for well-being, action and adaptation to climate change impacts. Learn more about youth leadership training.

Eighteen local youth leaders experienced this intensive training and went on to provide support for peers in their community and co-facilitate “How on Earth” school and community workshops.

 “We’re thrilled to be working alongside BYT to support and inspire young people in our region,” says Dr Eshana Bragg, ecopsychologist and Director of The Joyality Project. “Our Joyality trainings and workshops are based on the symbiosis of personal and planetary well-being, and the joys of community, nature connection and taking positive action, even in the darkest of times.” 

A Youth Voice: theatre based on experiences eco-anxiety, climate change and the pandemic.

An original theatre performance named “How on Earth” (Part 2) has been developed by Byron Youth Theatre. As an integral part of the process, cast members were interviewed by Director Lisa Apostolides about their experiences of eco-anxiety, climate change and the recent pandemic. This has been powerfully woven into a powerful and intriguing production.

 "It has been a deeply moving process in creating this production as we are all in a lived experience right now every day. It is an absolute honour to work with such talented cast members who have dedicated themselves to sharing the raw, honest truth." shares Lisa.

The Byron Youth Theatre have previously received funding from Byron Council, Country Arts Support Program Regional Arts NSW and Northern Rivers Community Foundation to develop and perform an original production in August (How on Earth - Part 1), and a second major production at the end of 2020 (How on Earth - Part 2). The “How on Earth” project also collaborated with local emergency services, sustainability organisations and community leaders to support practical disaster preparedness of the community.

RESOURCES

Here’s a list of Byron Shire groups and projects you can join to get active, and who can support your mental health.

Clarence Valley groups and projects for climate action and resilience here. :D