|
Fiona
Diversity generator, curator of meaningful synchronicities,
community builder, neuro-divergent creative force, catalyst for a more connected future. |
Our journey began in 2019, a year for us marked by profound personal and global moments of disconnection, notably the Christchurch Mosque shootings.
Everywhere I looked, the unseen forces of exclusion and otherism fanned the embers of hate and to me, the answers lie in transforming disconnection into connection, especially for children, the future leaders of our world. I began to find answers in “The Opposite of Hate” by Sally Kohn, answers that included fostering connection spaces.
For a long time I have felt that my responsibility is to make positive social change. With that I am a restless and relentless change-maker driven by the belief that even the tiniest actions can lead to significant social change. My passion lies in generating diversity and pursuing inclusion to make the most of my brief journey through life.
The Foundation of U Shape Us
At the heart of every child's path to growth and well-being lies belonging.
Over the past decade, studies have shown a concerning rising trend: by age 15, one in three Australian kids feel they don’t belong. Some feel this way once in a while, but for others, it’s a constant struggle they face every day.
Poor sense of belonging has been linked to low academic achievement, poor mental health and school avoidance.
Many parents have felt the anguish when their child has felt excluded by their peers.
My daughter Molly and I, after facing exclusion and witnessing its impact on others, we're inspired to create U Shape Us — our answer to turning moments of disconnection into genuine connection.
Everywhere I looked, the unseen forces of exclusion and otherism fanned the embers of hate and to me, the answers lie in transforming disconnection into connection, especially for children, the future leaders of our world. I began to find answers in “The Opposite of Hate” by Sally Kohn, answers that included fostering connection spaces.
For a long time I have felt that my responsibility is to make positive social change. With that I am a restless and relentless change-maker driven by the belief that even the tiniest actions can lead to significant social change. My passion lies in generating diversity and pursuing inclusion to make the most of my brief journey through life.
The Foundation of U Shape Us
At the heart of every child's path to growth and well-being lies belonging.
Over the past decade, studies have shown a concerning rising trend: by age 15, one in three Australian kids feel they don’t belong. Some feel this way once in a while, but for others, it’s a constant struggle they face every day.
Poor sense of belonging has been linked to low academic achievement, poor mental health and school avoidance.
Many parents have felt the anguish when their child has felt excluded by their peers.
My daughter Molly and I, after facing exclusion and witnessing its impact on others, we're inspired to create U Shape Us — our answer to turning moments of disconnection into genuine connection.
The initial creative spark for U Shape Us was kindled during a tough time when Molly, then 6, experienced exclusion from peers and felt shy about making new friends. We came up with a simple imagination game using card prompts to inspire new ways to make friends.
One of these ideas was bringing an elastic to school and inviting kids to join in the age-old jumping game of elastics. This wasn't just a new game for Molly. It was a cherished game for me in the 80’s and my mum in the 50s, when we were kids.
Not only did this help Molly forge new friendships, but it had an unexpected ripple effect. Soon, other children brought their own elastics to school, and even her school invested in them.
Through U Shape Us, we've seen how games and creativity can bring people from different backgrounds closer together.
Our hope is that this becomes more than just a game and serves as the starting point for a larger conversation around what belonging can look like for everyone.
In creating these connection spaces, we're turning ideas into friendships, and creativity into communities.
So we invite you to be a part of this exciting beginning. Your voice, your creativity, and your stories are the essential pieces that can help shape 'us' into a more inclusive, empathetic society.
One of these ideas was bringing an elastic to school and inviting kids to join in the age-old jumping game of elastics. This wasn't just a new game for Molly. It was a cherished game for me in the 80’s and my mum in the 50s, when we were kids.
Not only did this help Molly forge new friendships, but it had an unexpected ripple effect. Soon, other children brought their own elastics to school, and even her school invested in them.
Through U Shape Us, we've seen how games and creativity can bring people from different backgrounds closer together.
Our hope is that this becomes more than just a game and serves as the starting point for a larger conversation around what belonging can look like for everyone.
In creating these connection spaces, we're turning ideas into friendships, and creativity into communities.
So we invite you to be a part of this exciting beginning. Your voice, your creativity, and your stories are the essential pieces that can help shape 'us' into a more inclusive, empathetic society.
Acknowledgements
I extend my deepest gratitude to this dedicated community of change-makers who have been instrumental in turning our idea into reality:
Your support has been key in helping us build U Shape Us. Your faith in this idea, even when I had doubts, has kept us going.
While the spark for U Shape Us may have initially ignited from personal experience, it's through the collective wisdom of this social change community that it has grown into something so much more.
Thank you for shaping us x
- Our generous and wise mentors
- Belinda Newham - Decision Revolution, through the Millhouse Ventures GRIST program.
- Tom Dawkins & Caitlyn Touzell - Start Some Good, made possible through the generous fellowship from the June Canavan Foundation
- Belinda Newham - Decision Revolution, through the Millhouse Ventures GRIST program.
- The Mill House Ventures, especially Cindy Mitchell, Tom Navakas, Craig Fairweather and Millhouse Mentors
- Anna Howell, Community Development Officer, Whitlam Mingle Program
- Tony Cox, Wellbeing Specialist, Gordon Primary School
- The Canberra Innovation Network's 'Idea to Impact' program staff
- The StartSomeGood 'Good Hustle program (Social Enterprise Design) staff
- Canberra Institute of Technology : Community Development program staff (Libby and Stuart) and project peers
- Karen Jesson and her Community Development team at Communities@Work, enriched by the expertise from Peter Kenyon's Masterclass in Community Development.
- Outstanding coaches - Vincent Hudson and Cameron Price, who have been essential in shaping our vision
- Our supporters and allies - thank you for enabling our play-testing sessions - Diversity ACT, Mura Lanyon Youth and Family Centre, Stripey Sundae, Gordon Primary After School Care, Lanyon Art and Craft Markets, Heart and Soul Story,
- The 250+child and adult playtesters , participants in surveys and interviews about belonging. Your perspectives have shaped our game, our resources, our mission, who U Shape Us is.
- Our encouragers from the start - Emma Grey, Lois Ford, Mandy, Rod, Fiona Lester
- Dr Hugh Mackay for sharing your wisdom.
- Our crowd funding backers - Nikki Cooper, Sue McIntosh, Vincent Hudson, Molly M, Matthew Sumner, Dorothée Seeto, Jacky Ryles, Z.D., Jodi Wanigasekera, Jenny Bell, Shaun Haidon, Corinna Gilligan, Samantha Felicity Heron, Sharon Leigh-Hazell, Sue Gavel, Rod Noy, Adrienne Gault, Sarah & Mel McIntosh, Lois Ford.
Your support has been key in helping us build U Shape Us. Your faith in this idea, even when I had doubts, has kept us going.
While the spark for U Shape Us may have initially ignited from personal experience, it's through the collective wisdom of this social change community that it has grown into something so much more.
Thank you for shaping us x
