Joycelyn Tang, Robert Ferritto and Chanel Bowen won John Curtin Young Leadership Awards for their fundraising and community work efforts.        d455307
Camera IconJoycelyn Tang, Robert Ferritto and Chanel Bowen won John Curtin Young Leadership Awards for their fundraising and community work efforts.        d455307 Credit: Supplied/Supplied

John Curtin Leadership Academy entrepreneurs leading from the front

Kate LeaverStirling Times

JCLA is a Curtin University undergraduate program that aims to develop future leaders with community values and connect them to not-for-profit organisations.

Trigg resident Chanel Bowen and Churchlands resident Joycelyn Tang organised an event for Opportunity International that raised $1600.

“Opportunity International is a not-for-profit that gives loans to small business in developing countries so essentially it’s micro-financing for people in poverty,” Ms Bowen said. “We wanted people our own age to spread the word about how they can help people in poverty by giving them a loan rather than just giving them a handout.”

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Ms Bowen, who is studying a double degree in film and commerce, said working with not-for-profit organisations would help with her future endeavours.

“I’ve always wanted to work in international development and use filmmaking as a platform for that,” she said.

Ms Tang is a law student and said she aimed to get involved in human rights law.

Karrinyup resident Robert Ferritto organised a charity concert for WA Organ Donation and Transplant Foundation and managed to raise $4500 for the cause.

“At the concert, we had two speakers, one who was waiting for a double lung transplant and one whose daughter died when she was 11 months old and she decided to donate her organs,” he said.

“It’s a really great opportunity to educate, raise awareness and hopefully encourage people to donate.”

The chemical engineering student said he would like to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship.

“I’m doing chemical engineering and economics but the main goal is to be able to use that to help people in some way,” he said.