A Day of Ripples Turning into Waves

19 Sept

The second Agents of Change Festival was nothing short of magical. Hosted at Essex Business School, University of Essex, the day brought together young change makers from local schools signed up to the Agents of Change initiative, all buzzing with excitement and energy from the moment they arrived.

The day began in the main hall with a high-energy welcome and an introduction to the theme: water and water conservation. The atmosphere was electric as pupils learned how something as simple as saving water can create powerful change. From there, everyone split into their groups to take part in four inspiring workshops throughout the day.

Anglian Water led an eye-opening session on how to complete a school water audit — a practical activity the children could take back to their own schools to make a real difference. With Essex Music Hub, pupils explored sound and rhythm through African drumming, creating powerful beats that echoed the movement of rain and flowing water. Creativity and teamwork shone in the Colchester Gazette–sponsored workshop, where teams raced to build newspaper caterpillars strong enough to compete against their peers. Another session saw children exploring the university grounds, connecting with nature and reflecting beside the lakes.

Every workshop was filled with laughter, smiles, and genuine enthusiasm. The children were engaged throughout the entire day, working collaboratively while earning the new and exclusive Agents of Change Water Badge.

It was a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and collective action — a day where small ripples of learning and joy truly began to turn into waves of change.