Putting Down Roots Project

Putting Down roots - how to care for the environment as told by our multicultural community and schools

This project achieved its aims of working with people of Non English Speaking Background in the Edgars/Merri Creek Catchment.

Participants were involved in a workshop on the care and protection of the environment. Through participation, they constructed their own knowledge about how they as householders could take better care of the local environment. A participatory workshop process was used to produce published materials of ongoing use to other groups.

Twelve copies of the reading materials have been produced for ESL courses, school libraries and for teachers to use with students in reading exercises. The style is by way of personal narrative with stories from many lands and local Aborigines that then link back to caring for or appreciating the local environment. In very simple English, these stories inform the reader about the Edgars and Merri Creeks, their environmental attributes, recreational opportunities and how we can each take care of our waterways through correct disposal of waste.

The report of the project is available here