How YOUTH 2 YOUTH got started

In January 2001, Jessica Kiely was working as a volunteer on her local youth team - HYPE - for Baulkham Hills Shire Council. The new team was asked to run a youth event for National Youth Week with a big budget. While their event attracted lots of support and attendance (there were DJ and skating comps, dancing mascots, chill out tents and hundreds of local young people) they received no event training.

"I realised there were lots of young people in the same position - running events without event management or promotions experience - so I wrote the training program!" said Jessica.

Because of Jessica's experience and interest in the area of running youth events, in March 2001 she piloted two youth skills workshops - one on youth event management (called 'A Youth Event By You') and another on youth PR skills ('Be A PR Star') at the Youth Action & Policy Association (YAPA) state conference for their youth delegates. Running both workshops confirmed Jessica's suspicion that no one was running youth specific training for active young Australians. She also realised that the youth-to-youth training approach based on first hand experience and a peer formula was the key to her success.

As a business owner from the age of 19, Jessica also knew that there were gaps in the youth business services market. Youth-friendly support and networking for young entrepreneurs didn't exist! (Her first ever visit to a business support centre ended with the advice "that's nice dear, now go get a real job!")

Undeterred, in July 2001 Jessica registered the business name 'Youth 2 Youth' with fellow HYPE team member Ainsley, and Youth 2 Youth was born to connect, educate and encourage young entrepreneurs and enterprising young people.

Jessica's new business partner, Karen Miles, who started her first business at 23 and is now the bestselling author of 'Career Advice you wish your mum had told you', joined Jessica in 2003 to continue Y2Y's journey.

Since 2001, Y2Y has organically grown into a nationwide training organisation with a team of young enterprising facilitators and office staff, all with business ownership experience and an awesome ability to connect with young people.

As a social enterprise and pioneer in what is now coined 'enterprise education', Youth 2 Youth has worked with thousands of young people (as well as teachers, principals, careers advisors, youth workers and more) in every state of Australia. We're continually praised for our ability to engage, support and train young people interested in the difference they can make in their lives and community.

From our initial beginnings, Youth 2 Youth are now leading industry experts in designing and implementing fun, educational and engaging programs and resources for young people.

From one person's vision for 'educating others with endless enthusiasm', Youth 2 Youth owes its success to entrepreneurial drive, social values, and hard work, and a commitment and passion for young people living life fully self-expressed and on purpose.