GreenTown
Speaking another language shouldn’t be a barrier to doing something for the environment. Unfortunately, many of our culturally diverse communities miss out on the help and support they need to make a difference.
That’s where we come in.
Our GreenTown program is working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) to help them make changes in their homes, businesses, schools and everyday lives, to safeguard our environment.
We train a small group of people from each community we work with in sustainability. They then carry out free sustainability audits in the homes and businesses of others in their community. The project includes community and school workshops, and making sure the message gets into community language newspapers.
We’re working with people from all over the world – from the Arabic and Assyrian Chaldean community in Moreland, to the Turkish community in Hume, and the East African community in Flemington. We’re also working with the Indigenous community in Darebin.
No matter what their cultural background, however, all these Victorians have something in common – they are all keen to do their bit for the environment.
So far, the response has been enthusiastic. The first group to get under way – the Arabic and Assyrian Chaldean community – found that they had more requests for audits than they could keep up with.
The key to our success
The key to our success is the time and energy we put into to building trust and good relationships with the communities we work with. We get to know and understand their culture, day-to-day lives and how they can best adopt sustainable behaviours. We connect with members from within the communities and they branch out further and become the ‘face’ of our program.
Ultimately, we find we have as much to learn from them as they do from us. The process leaves us all richer and our environment healthier.
GreenTown is run in partnership with the Moreland Energy Foundation, and many local community organisations. It is funded by the Sustainability Fund and is running from 2008 to 2010.
Read the latest news on GreenTown here
Keep an eye on the latest photos and buzz, below.
Hume's Turkish businesses going green
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Turkish‐speaking businesses in the City of Hume have jumped at the opportunity to sign up for free green business assessments.
The audits are being carried out by local community members who have been...
moreZero emissions homes within reach
Thursday, 17 September 2009
In the wake of Victoria’s warmest and driest winter on record, environment groups today called for new building standards to reduce emissions and water use, and to help the state’s homes...
moreGreen groups welcome Bracks' climate change announcement
Saturday, 4 November 2006
Environment groups today welcomed the Labor Party’s announcement of a new scheme to help families reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Environment Victoria Executive Director...
more
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- Community Sustainability Report: A review of what works and how it is practised in Victoria |
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- The Quick Guide to our Community Climate Action Plan |
