Home Planet Program
We’re working with recently arrived migrant and refugee youth
New in 2012!
Emerging out of our successful Multicultural Leaders in Sustainability program, Home Planet partners with AMES to work with newly arrived migrant and refugee youth across Melbourne.
The five month long program empowers participants to make their everyday lives more environmentally friendly and equips them with skills to engage others around sustainability.
The first six weeks are devoted to interactive training around the topics of sustainability, energy, water and waste. After this, participants are supported to deliver their own community sustainability projects.
Each semester the program also offers participants the chance to connect with our environment via field trips and weekend long camp. Participants who complete the project component of the program earn a Certificate I in Active Volunteering, a stepping stone for further study or a career.
For many participants, the Home Planet program is transformational:
"At first we used to use a lot of things without thinking. We knew it was bad, but we didn't feel it. Now we feel it." – Yonas, Footscray 2012
For others, the field trip and the camp are their first time since they arrived in Australia outside suburban Melbourne
As well as deepening their understanding of the environmental issues participants learn about in the interactive training, project work allows participants to redefine their relationship to their new country – as one of giving back and teaching others.
The program also has a significant direct impact on our environment:
“When I arrived in Australia, I took a long shower - maybe 20 or 15 minutes every day. Now I shower for 4 minutes." – Abdulkadir, Footscray 2012
"At first I left the power on all the time. Now I turn it off when I go to bed" – Alex, Footscray 2012
Through their projects, participants in the Semester 1 2012 Home Planet program passed on the environmental message to over 300 people.
Home Planet is made possible with support and funding from the Department of Human Services, Engage! Program; Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation; Australian Ethical Investment; Brimbank City Council’s St Albans Connect; and City West Water
June 2013: It's our Home Planet multicultural Environment Expo!
What came before Home Planet? Multicultural Leaders in Sustainability (MLS)!
Check out our new sustainability translations - in languages from Amharic to Zomi!
Find out what all the buzz is about, below.
Water use soars after heatwave
14 March 2013
Jason Dowling, The Age
The water use records keep tumbling this year, with Melbourne recording another record in the past week.
With temperatures well into the...
moreSecond time around, but first in fashion
11 July 2012
Benjamin Millar, Maribyrnong Weekly
RECYCLING is the new black, judging by a fun-filled fashion show at AMES Footscray on Friday.
The show was put together by the AMES youth class as part of a...
moreGreen light for the environment
12 June, 2012
Anthony Loncarcic, Brimbank Weekly
Newly arrived migrants in Brimbank are taking part in a program designed to educate them about the environment and sustainability.
About 25 students at AMES...
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Twitter
Home Planet Multicultural Environment Expo
For World Environment Day on 5 June newly arrived young people from all corners of the world will come together with their local councils and communities to stage the Home Planet multicultural Environment...
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North Melbourne Recycle Now
Volunteering with Environment Victoria since December 2012 has been an interesting and rewarding experience thus far. My background has previously been in farming and the construction industry so the attitudes and objectives of the working environment when compared with an organisation like...
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How many light bulbs does it take to change the world?
At 8.30pm this Sat March 23, millions of Earthlings will switch off the lights for Earth Hour, in a symbolic act of solidarity for climate action.
It’s a great chance to show our leaders that we humanoids DO care about the planet, and to raise public awareness about climate...
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Get the juice on single-use!
This month the Baillieu Government ordered the Zoo to dump their ‘Wipe for Wildlife’ campaign because their own logging practices don't quite make the grade.
...
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Food for thought: Celebrate with Father Christmas AND Mother Nature
The silly season may be nigh upon us, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be smart with our food purchases! As we get ready to welcome Father Christmas and get a little jolly ourselves, let’s not forget Mother Nature.
Here's some...
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Flickr
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Nothing to see here. Keep on moving...
Nothing to see here. Keep on moving...
