Living Green, drinking tea and weaving
This Saturday, 12 May, Auburn Community Development Network (ACDN) will host another ‘enviro tea salon’ at the monthly Auburn community markets in Sydney’s western suburbs.
“Auburn is home to people from more than 130 different countries, and almost 100 different languages. These salons, which are part of our Living Green project, bring community members together to share a free cup of tea and chat about environmental issues,” says Claire Pettigrew, ACDN’s Living Green project manager.”
“Living Green is a grassroots community education program that focuses on exploring environmental issues, including climate change and energy efficiency,” Claire said.
“Thanks to support from the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, we have extended our project to include digital climate stories, information seminars in community languages and a community-wide forum for service providers who work with our multicultural community members,” she said.
ACDN’s team of Bilingual Educators host the ‘enviro tea salons’, providing information about climate change, energy efficiency and the carbon price in Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese, Dari, Hindi and Dinka. They encourage participants to take part in salon activities, including quizzes, chalking, candle making, and calligraphy.
This Saturday, participants can take part in a weaving workshop with local Indigenous Artist Kerrie Kenton, who will use native Lemandra grass to weave objects. Locals will be encouraged to share their energy efficiency tips in exchange for a free seedling, re-potted into a recycled coffee cup sourced from local businesses.
“This is our fourth ‘enviro tea salon’, and so far, they are proving to be a great way of engaging the public in talking about complex environmental issues in a culturally appropriate and relaxed setting,” Claire said.
ACDN has worked with local communities for 36 years using community cultural development and education models to build strength and capacity in our community.
For more information contact Claire Pettigrew on 02 9649 5559 or environment@acdn.org.au.
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