An innovative educational program for young people aged 14-16 at Edendale Community Environment Farm is set to continue for another two years thanks to a funding boost from the Australian Government.
The Federal Member for Jagajaga Kate Thwaites this week announced the highly successful program would receive a $297,000 Inclusive Communities grant through the Strong and Resilient Communities Program.
The Youth Engagement and Pathway Program aims to boost engagement with young people aged 14-16, providing hands-on learning and experience at the farm, education about healthy eating and cooking, and opportunities to explore career paths such as environmental conservation, horticulture, agriculture and animal care.
The program is a collaboration between Edendale, Open House, Oz Harvest and local secondary schools.
At the end of the program, which runs each school term, students can continue their connection with the farm through a new weekly youth volunteering program.
Mayor Ben Ramcharan thanked Kate Thwaites and the Australian Government for their generous funding support.
"We are very pleased to collaborate with the Australian Government, Open House and OzHarvest on such a wonderful program that will benefit local young people for years to come," Cr Ramacharan said.
Over three terms, Edendale will partner with Open House to provide education in environmental and climate action through local food and veggie gardening, propagating and caring for local native plants, revegetation projects along the Diamond Creek, and assisting with farm and animal chores.
For one term each year, Oz Harvest will run a six-week Nutrition Education Skills Training (NEST) program, providing an easy and fun way for young people to learn about healthy eating and how to cook simple low-cost meals, incorporating their own farm-grown veggies where possible.
Open House is a local non-for-profit community services organisation with extensive experience working with young people.
OzHarvest is Australia's leading food rescue organisation, collecting quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivering it to thousands of charities supporting people across the country.
Cr Natalie Duffy, Jagajaga MP Kate Thwaites, Nillumbik Mayor Ben Ramcharan, Youth Mayor Orianna Edmonds, Cr Frances Eyre, with representatives of Edendale, Open House, Oz Harvest and local schools.
