Human Connection

When you interview someone at the Risk and Dare youth justice conference, held in a high school, it's tough finding a quiet spot, especially when you only have 10 minutes... Elise talks about being moved by the story of two women who arrived in Australia as refugees.  "The refugees I've encountered are so strong." The resilience shown by people fleeing vulnerable situations is the key characteristic Elise sees. She believes young people in Australia need to hear these stories - stories from really dark places and people who have lived many lives - in order to build their own resilience. She also believes we are stronger when we tell our own stories. Storytelling shares lived experience. It gives hope for the future. It lets people learn from other's experiences and create their own stories as well. Stories form a human connection. "That's important, that human connection."