 ‘What is the Big Idea?’ was
devised by the Christchurch City Council to encourage Christchurch school pupils to find
innovative ways to strengthen our community.
Targeting primary and
intermediate age groups (10-13 year-olds), we wanted to utilise the creativity of
Christchurch children to help make our City a better place.
Invited schools were each
challenged to come up with one original ‘big idea’ that would improve either
their school, their local community or the City as a whole.
First they were asked to
identify one particular problem – either in the school’s local area, the general
community or Christchurch at large. Then we wanted participants to brainstorm possible
ways to solve that problem, with a view to selecting the one idea which provided the best
solution.
Those taking part were
encouraged to work with appropriate units of the council to develop their ideas. While we
were looking for creative solutions, we also wanted realistic projects that could actually
be put into practice in our community.
As you can see, although the
projects that have emerged cover a wide range of different possible activities, each has
stuck to the brief of applying creativity in a methodical and realistic way.
The initial goal of the
project for each school or class group was to prepare a presentation explaining their
‘big idea’ to their local Council community board. As you can see, for a number
of groups this was not the end but the beginning as the community boards, various business
units within the Council and others in the community have recognised the merit of the
‘big ideas’ and begun working with the schools to turn them into reality.
Some have already been put
into practice and it looks as if a number of the other ‘big ideas’will bear
fruit.
Within the next few months we
will again be inviting schools to tell us ‘What’s the Big Idea?’ If you are
associated with a school which would like to take part, or a business or community group
which would like to help implement any of the ‘big ideas’ outlined here, please
contact me on 941 8890.
(Lyn.Campbell@ccc.govt.nz) Lyn Campbell
Children’s Advocate
Christchurch City Council |
