Young multicultural leaders visit Sugarloaf Reservoir
February 2011
The 2011 intake of our Multicultural Leaders in Sustainability (MLS) project is up and running, with the 18 new leaders visiting Sugarloaf Reservoir in late February. At the reservoir they learnt first hand about water issues in Melbourne.
The group comes from countries ranging from Sudan to Macedonia and Afghanistan to Vietnam. Environment Victoria’s Charlie Davie says that
“They’re thirsty for knowledge about Australia and looking for opportunities to use their skills. When they learn that we have serious environmental challenges they want to jump straight in and help.”
MLS gives them the chance to do this, and to share their knowledge with their families, friends and communities who often miss out on environmental messages.
At the reservoir, the participants shared some of their own stories about water and food availability and the effects of changing climates in vastly different parts of the world, and how people meet these challenges. Comparing how people get their water, and how they use it in their home countries makes for some fascinating discussions.
Environment Victoria’s well-established Multicultural Leaders in Sustainability project combines English language learning and settlement support for young migrants and refugees, with environmental action. In 2011 MLS is based in St Albans, in a new partnership with AMES, through their English classes. Learning about local environments and our country’s environmental challenges is a very effective way to help the settlement process.
After 8 weeks of training in the classroom and out in the field the multicultural leaders will start designing projects that will spread the sustainability message through their communities.But before that they head to the Adekate Camp near Creswick, where they will learn more about sustainability and leadership, and have a damn good time.
MLS is funded by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, the R.E. Ross Trust, City West Water, Brimbank City Council and AMES. MLS was designed in partnership by Environment Victoria and the Centre for Multicultural Youth.
