Divide goes green

YOUNG locals are aiming to help save the environment and at the same time bridge the cultural gap with new migrants.
The Youth Eco-Challenge II – Diversity for Sustainability aims to bring about intercultural connection and friendships by assisting migrant and refugee youths to reduce water and energy consumption in their local communities.
The project, which started last week, is a partnership between Environment Victoria (EV), the City of Casey and the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI).
Having implemented their energy and water saving ideas in their homes and schools with great success, the 17 youths involved in the program are now keen to work with some of Australia’s newest residents to spread the message across the cultural divide.
Activities include showerhead exchanges, school-based education workshops and tree planting activities.
CMYI youth participation coordinator Rob Ball said the program would give a voice to migrant and refugee communities who in the past may not have been heard.
“Finding ways to live more sustainable lives is a constant learning process for the whole community,” Mr Ball said.
“The more people that can contribute to this learning, the better prepared we’ll be to meet our environmental challenges.”