The End of an Era, Saying Goodbye to Change Makers

Five years ago, I decided to take the social and environmental justice work I had been doing with children in classrooms and move it into an after-school space. It felt like a big leap. I had no idea if anyone would come. But they did. And Change Makers, as the kids named it, quickly became my favourite part of the week.

This month, I’ve been wrapping up with the final group of children to move through the program before they head off to high school. I’ve worked with many of these beautiful humans since 2021 and 2022, and somehow, we managed to fit so much into our time together. I wanted to share some of the moments that shaped their journey, because they give a real sense of what sits at the heart of Meg & the Wildflowers.

Change Makers Over the Years

When they first joined Change Makers, they were still tiny. We spent a lot of time in the nearby nature reserve building cubbies, climbing trees and getting muddy. The kind of childhood play that has always mattered, and feels increasingly rare. They also took great pride in caring for the space, collecting rubbish and making sure the park was looked after.

By Grade 3, they began noticing that a lot of rubbish from the McDonald’s over the road was ending up in the reserve. Instead of just complaining about it, they decided to investigate. We visited the restaurant, observed what was happening and spoke with the staff. The kids were genuinely outraged by the overflowing bins and the mess. They didn't even have a recycling bin! One child very bravely questioned the manager and did not hold back. Not long after, we hosted a letter-writing party where the kids wrote firm, thoughtful letters and sent them off to McDonald’s head office.

In Grade 4, inspired by the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address, the group created their own tribute to the park and the Country we live on. They wrote and recorded words of gratitude for the earth, the stars, the sun and moon, the water, plants, animals and people. I was struck by how sincere they were and how clearly they expressed themselves. When the video was finished, we hosted a small premiere and shared it with their families.

By Grades 5 and 6, our focus widened. We began learning about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how global issues connect to our own communities. We went on excursions to the ASRC and the Sticky Institute. We attended a screening of the documentary Future Council, and the kids left deeply inspired by the young people featured in it. Together, we also took part in the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s Walk for Truth, standing alongside thousands of others and becoming a very small part of a significant moment in history.

Across the years, the Change Makers designed and led some truly brilliant projects. They made and sold products at local markets to raise money for causes they cared about. They hosted a clothing swap, created zines, built websites, wrote to the Department of Education, composed songs and so much more. Their ideas were thoughtful, creative and deeply values led.

The End of an Era

A couple of weeks ago, we held our end of year graduation ceremony. This ritual began in 2022 as a way to farewell our first group of Grade 6s and has become a much loved tradition. Each year, the kids decide on the theme, create the decorations and plan how the event will unfold. This year, after much debate, they chose an underwater theme. They made beautiful bunting featuring fish and shells cut from magazines.

Families were invited and everyone brought food to share. We gathered around a makeshift campfire made from sticks collected in the park, which we returned afterwards, and tissue paper flames that have been reused year after year. Sitting together, I shared a reflection on 2025, and the Change Makers spoke about their highlights. Several of the current group wrote speeches, and a few past graduates returned to talk about what change making has looked like for them in high school.

Earlier in the year, I had spoken with the group about how I see them like wildflowers. Each one different, needing different conditions to thrive, and contributing something unique to the ecosystem around them. I asked them to draw themselves as wildflowers, and their drawings were wonderfully varied. At the graduation, I returned to this idea. I traced their drawings onto notebooks filled with words of encouragement from me. My mum, who has been volunteering to help the last two years, also crocheted granny squares inspired by each child’s wildflower. I hope that they carry this analogy, that they are all wonderfully different, with them as they move into high school and into a world that so often pressures young people to be the same.

Last week, we went for one final walk through the nature reserve. Over the years, council works have changed the space significantly. Sadly, many of the trees they once climbed are gone. But we shared memories, noticed what had changed, and spent one last time together before saying goodbye. Three of the kids even recreated a photo of them climbing the same tree, 4 years later.

It has been an absolute privilege to work with children in person over the past eleven years. They have shaped me, not just as an educator, but as a human. I would not be doing this work now without their influence. That's why I am taking what I have learned and offering it to parents and educators, so more children can be supported to grow into thoughtful, empowered change makers.

Visit The Meadow for more information about how you can bring these kinds of experiences and learnings to the kids in your life.