Avalon Hope Bourne believes in empowering young people to tackle climate anxiety and drive meaningful change. As the CEO and founder of Sonder Youth Ltd., Avalon is dedicated to addressing the mental health challenges associated with environmental crises through innovative, evidence-based programs.
With over a decade of experience in designing and delivering youth programs, Avalon has cultivated a deep expertise in creating supportive environments for young people. Her background includes a Bachelor of International Relations and impactful work with community-based social impact organisations in Vietnam, India, and Kenya. This international experience fuelled her commitment to environmental sustainability and inclusive practices for local communities.
Avalon’s academic journey includes a Master’s in Positive Psychology, during which she explored the management of climate anxiety through her thesis. This research has been instrumental in shaping Sonder Youth’s approach to mental health, integrating climate anxiety into their holistic support model. At Sonder Youth, Avalon leads initiatives that provide preventative mental health support and empower youth to engage with climate change actively. Participants design and implement projects addressing social, emotional and environmental issues, which foster resilience and a proactive approach to their concerns.
Living through the Black Summer bushfires in 2020 was a defining experience for Avalon, deeply influencing her focus on climate anxiety. This personal encounter with environmental devastation underscored the need for effective mental health strategies that address the psychological impacts of climate change.
As the climate crisis progresses, Avalon is dedicated to educating young people and their communities to proactively manage climate anxiety, so that we can continue to combat the consequences of climate change effectively.
Outside of her professional life, Avalon lives on Dharawal country in an off-grid tiny home she built herself.
Project
To investigate initiatives effectively supporting young people to manage climate anxiety
Avalon Bourne
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