More than 1,000 school students from across Scotland descended on Perth on Wednesday to take part in the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) finals.
Kids from Perth High School and Morrison’s Academy in Crieff took to the stage at Perth Concert Hall to talk about their charity initiatives involving Cycling Without Age and PKAVS.
The Wood Foundation’s event allows youngsters to champion charities they support and put forward presentations in the hope of securing their charity £3,000.
Emily Warden, an S3 student at Morrison’s Academy, said: “We made a video about the different that children in care go through and we did a presentation about our chosen charity PKAVS.
“It was a really great experience and we gained confidence in ourselves and in speaking and in promoting awareness of different problems.”
Sir Ian Woods, chairman of The Wood Foundation, explained that the initiative gives children an opportunity to get involved in their communities.
He said: “What we’re seeing here today (Wednesday) is a massive amount of enthusiasm from young people who have found a charity that they enjoy and want to raise money for it.
“They’re beginning to understand that there is a whole lot of problems in our community and they’re getting involved.
“Of all our (The Wood Foundation’s) programmes this is probably the one that I enjoy the most.
“This is getting kids interested in our communities and getting them to realise how they can help.
“Kids are a really powerful force when they put their minds together.”
This was the 11th year of the YPI project and Sir Ian said it was “evolving” as more schools came on board.
He said: “It’s the way school education should be going. Getting kids involved in things that are happening in the real world.”
The year’s event’s keynote speakers were social justice and human rights campaigner Amal Azzudin and social entrepreneur Alan Mahon and entertainment was provided by Edinburgh singer-songwriter Callum Beattie.
Amal said: “I believe that it is vital for young people to have a safe space where they can engage, discuss and share ideas regarding issues that they care about.
“Young people have the ability, courage and bravery to create positive change for themselves and others.
“They just need the opportunity, platform and determination to do so.”
