The McCallums Hill Public School, Roselands, student won the primary school category for his plan to set up a community skills exchange program where young people are paired up with older members of their ancestral community, in this case Greek but also Arabic which is offered at McCallums Hill Public, to learn about their cultural heritage.
In turn, the students would teach their elders computer skills including the internet, email and checking on family origins around the world through google earth.
Winning a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop, a $3,000 scholarship to attend the SingularityU Australia Summit, a 12-month membership to ‘The Entrepreneurship Lab’, and a 12-month mentorship package from the Australian School of Entrepreneurship, Jonathan is thrilled and the only successful public school student.
“I didn’t expect to win,” he said. “I thought my project idea was a really good one but I knew there were a lot of good entries from all over Australia.
“I feel proud of myself for persevering and I feel happy that my project idea can really help my community.”
Mum Maria says she is still in disbelief that her son took out the win.
“My mother feels very honoured too since she inspired Jonathan’s project,” Maria said.
“It is incredible to see how her face lights up when, via google earth, she is able to see her hometown village in Greece so we think this project will be of huge benefit to many elderly migrants keen to keep connected with their families both here and overseas.”
