Metropol Inspire: Experience as a platform for change
Change occurs thanks to those determined and inspired, and Christchurch teenager Annabell Young, stands as an example of this.
Despite living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Annabell took action, overcoming ongoing challenges, to become the Community Award winner at the 2024 Canterbury GirlBoss Awards. The annual awards recognise the achievements of young women who defy stereotypes and inspire others. The awards range from STEM and innovation to community and inclusion, recognising those creating change towards a brighter future.
Annabell created the Garden of Glamour, an online ball that can be enjoyed from anywhere. Born with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, she lives with chronic pain, joint dislocations, missed school days, and has endured multiple surgeries. One of her most heartbreaking moments was missing out on her school ball. As a result, Annabell took matters into her own hands and created an online ball accessible for those in any condition. “Formals are a really special high school experience,” she says. “Realising the lack of accessibility, and not being able to attend any school balls myself, drove me to create an inclusive experience for everyone.”
Winning the award in late August 2024 is not Annabell’s only claim to fame. At just 18 years of age, she has already made a significant impact on many young women throughout New Zealand. Alongside her Gardens of Glamour project, Annabell is an ongoing advocate for better support and accessibility for young people with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and similar conditions.
A youth representative on the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome New Zealand Committee, she’s also the former secretary of the Christchurch Foundation and Youth Philanthropy New Zealand’s Generation Give programme, where she played a key role in raising $8000 for community programmes. Valued by local leaders, businesses, and community members, her work made her a worthy recipient of the award, organisers say. “I just want to make sure other people don’t have to go through what I have,” explains Annabell. Annabell does not let Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome define her, instead setting her on a path to inspire other young women to realise they can overcome challenges and make a difference.
Establishing a platform for change, her work has provided joy and inclusion to those who are often left out, proving that neither age nor health barriers can stand in the way of making a significant impact.
Image, from left to right: Annabell Young, Community Award winner, Alexia Hilbertidou, GirlBoss New Zealand founder, Ella Sage, Innovation Award winner
