Empowering Our Community - Together We Grow
With the challenges of Covid-19 coming to light and the cost of living increasing, it has been proven that communities become stronger when they unite and work together. In order to empower our community, Sustainable Taranaki hosted three film screenings of the inspiring New Zealand documentary ‘Together We Grow’ within the last month with the support from TOI Foundation, the New Plymouth District Council and the South Taranaki District Council.
This 40-minute film shares the story of Wellington’s Community Unity, a thriving hub in Lower Hutt. Founder Julia Milne and her team have created a replicable model for developing resilient communities that can be applied anywhere in the world.
In collaboration with the South Taranaki District Council, a screening in Hāwera was organised on the 14 June, while the rest were held at the Len Lye Cinema and The Junction in New Plymouth. In total, we engaged with about 100 people, who were also able to learn more about what’s happening in Taranaki around food resilience and community gardens, and the different ways to get involved.
“It was a great opportunity to engage with our community and present local initiatives like the community gardens in Marfell, Glenpark Ave and Hāwera. It’s encouraging to see that people can get involved in their own different ways, not necessarily by working in the garden, if that’s not their thing.
There is space for everyone at the community gardens: whether it’s building a shed, taking photos, contributing their home compost, bringing food to the pataka kai, or even baking a cake in gratitude for a free service! It is a space for neighbours, families and friends to get together” says Behavioural Change Project Manager Alexandra Vernal.
We are definitely looking at expanding our mahi in this area and would love to hear from keen members of our community. Would you like to champion a new community garden, volunteer at the current ones or support this kaupapa in some other way?
Email info@sustainabletaranaki.org.nz to get involved today!
Have a look at these pages to learn more:
