“I was really keen to get involved because it’s all about fundraising to help at-risk and marginalised youth also complete the Duke of Edinburgh's Award around the world,” Zoe said.
Run by the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, the Challenge 100 campaign celebrates the legacy of the charity’s founder, Prince Phillip, and what would have been his 100th year.
Participants in the challenge were encouraged to raise funds by taking part in an activity inspired by the award’s focus on skills, physical recreation, voluntary service and adventurous journeys.
However, while completing Year 12, and now in lockdown, Zoe decided to share others’ experiences with extracurricular activities.
“I thought, ‘well, what if I interviewed people who have done these sorts of activities and see what they’ve gotten out of it and what they’ve achieved as a result’,” she said.
“So far, I’ve interviewed 10 young people and the kind of activities they’ve done have ranged from things like performing arts, a range of different sports, and community service.”
As part of the challenge, Zoe will ask 20 young people from Shepparton five questions each about their extracurricular activities and share their answers on social media.
“The most common answers I’m getting from them (is that) through being involved in these activities, they’ve developed more confidence, they’ve developed a range of non-academic skills, which will help them in the future, and they’ve been able to challenge themselves,” she said.
Zoe hopes to showcase the amazing things young people are capable of and raise money to help others complete the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in the process.
“If we can raise funds to help give people the financial resources to complete their Duke of Ed, these are the sort of things those at risk and are marginalised are going to be able to achieve,” she said.
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