INTRODUCTION

About the Study Session The Study Session was a chance for a group of people to come together for a short time (five days) and take the time to look at some issues together. The time together was about learning from each other - sharing stories and thinking about ways to apply the learning in the places people come from. Participants of the Study Session have come out with fresh ideas, inspiring stories and plans for how to make a more effective impact in their part of the planet. What those plans and learnings look like are different for each person and opportunities to share experiences after the Study Session are being encouraged. Diversity is important, the event had no party political, religious bias or other sectarian agenda. It is designed to be a time of informal sharing and learning from each other and invited 'experts' who have some experience in areas of interest connected to the themes of the Study Session.   Initial Feedback "What a fantastic group of young people, so inspiring." "I found it very Pacific, inspiring, humbling, admirable, grass roots, diverse and very indigenous. As a Pakeha I felt like a fish out of water but as a person I felt totally comfortable and accepted -and yet challenged." "I had always thought the Pacific nations were relatively poorly off compared to Maori but had not previously realised that the Pacific nations had been colonised and had gained their independence – it was surprising to see Maori say 'yeah we were colonised too - but we have never gained our independence'. Also amazing to me was to hear the Fijian Indian person their express that she now could see things more from their indigenous peoples point of view from hearing the Maori story in Aotearoa." "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in your event. As you know I have worked in a number of international youth conferences run by international bodies with many more resources than you had at your finger tips. And you pulled it off very well. Congratulations to you and to all the people that helped you." "Heaps more I am thinking of doing."    note: full feedback from evaluations and project plans to come...