Days remaining to donate to Minus18’s crowdfunding campaign

THREE days remain to donate to a crowdfunding campaign to build Victoria’s first dedicated space for and led by LGBT youth.

Minus18’s Atrium is billed as a space where LGBT youth can be empowered to create change in their communities, where young people can meet other LGBT youth and feel at home, and a space where young people from all over Melbourne can come and be themselves.

The organisation recently reached its target of $20,000, and with three days left to go in the campaign, there’s still time for further donations.

Minus18’s partnerships manager Tim Christodoulou said all extra funds raised in the campaign will be used for the Atrium.

“Our target of $20,000 was really just a baseline to cover the essentials we needed to get the space up and running,” he said.

“Anything raised above that target helps set up the Atrium for the future. It means more equipment, better infrastructure, a bigger workspace and ultimately a whole lot more support for young people.”

Christodoulou highlighted that it felt “amazing” to have reached the target.

“To see so much love and support for LGBT youth has been such an incredible experience for everyone here at Minus18 and the countless young people who will benefit from the Atrium,” he said.

“This is Minus18’s most successful crowdfunding campaign ever, and to know that it’s going toward Victoria’s first ever youth-led space for LGBT young people is mind-blowing.

“I don’t think any of us have fully wrapped our heads around it.”

Christodoulou said there were some challenges in maintaining the momentum of the campaign, but the amount of support Minus18 received was something they underestimated.

“Whenever you’re focused on a single project for a long time, I think there’s always going to be niggling doubts about how well it’s going to be received,” he said.

“This has been such a huge year for Minus18, but we just didn’t know how long it would take us to reach $20,000 – or if we’d even reach it in the first place.

“But those niggling doubts evaporated pretty quickly and the response we’ve had from the community… really has blown us away.”

It is not yet known when exactly the Atrium would open, as Christodoulou said there was “a bit of work to do” before they can announce a date.

The chance to gain tickets to the launch party is still available for anyone who makes a donation in the final three days.

Minus18 has more than 50 young volunteers and activists working to create an Australia free from homophobia and transphobia.

CLICK HERE for full campaign details and to make a donation

(Main photo credit: Marco Fink)