The Inevitability of Change

In 2022, 14 young people took part in a 10-week Creative Employability project during which they created three panels illustrating their thoughts and feelings emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The three panels were created all at the same time in a process of collaboration where everyone contributed and no-one could claim to own the final design.  White panels were laid out in the room and everyone wandered around, adding their mark in acrylic paint at random.

Initially, the design looked absolutely chaotic and jarring, but over the weeks clear designs emerged as young people began discussing common themes such as the fear of sudden changes, friendships and social isolation, confusing social expectations and feeling out of depth, fear of failing and being left behind. 

The collective theme that emerged was about accepting the inevitability of change.  “As long as we live we need to respond to changes in our environment as well as in our body, and it’s a reality we cannot escape.”

MOTHER NATURE

“We are worried our planet is overcrowded, natural resources are depleting, and animals and plants are struggling to exist.  Looking for jobs, we are very mindful to choose employers who care as much about our planet as we do, and who value our wellbeing as much as profit.”

MOTHER BOARD

“The internet has brought us closer together as individuals internationally and it’s good to know what is going on around the globe.  But, how do we know what is true or false?  Making decisions has become overwhelmingly complicated.  We depend on our phone for every aspect of our lives but it doesn’t help us get the skills and practice for the workplace.”

MOTHER SHIP           

“We all love fantasy and Sci-fi and we hope there is a better life out there in future.  But would we treat outer planets better than we are treating our own?  The moon orbits the earth alongside more than 4,500 manmade satellites for our Internet, GPS, and scientific research.  We are worried about climate change and also about the pollution we are carrying into space.  ‘Green washing’ is not ok!”