Published on Tuesday, 1 January 2013 at 12:00:00 AM
The Planting Our Future project was launched at Wakathuni and Bellary communities late 2012 and provides residents of the communities with various fruit and vegetables they cultivate themselves.
As part of the project, a pergola, barbecue area, kangaroo pit and vegetable garden have been built in the communities and about 40 large trees were planted to provide shade.
Project manager Cecilia Fernandez said it was a success with local men from the communities playing an integral role in building the different amenities.
"They built the fences, they built the kangaroo pit, they built the barbecue area and they planted all barbecue area and they planted all the trees," she said.
"It was hard work but it is really something we are proud of."
Mrs Fernandez said three of the men gained their Certificate III in Aboriginal and environmental health in the process of the construction of the project.
Mrs Fernandez said the project had secured the future for other projects to come in the community.
"They have planted ownership, they have planted pride of themselves, they have planted hope for things to come better, they have planted employment opportunities," she said.
"It is an ongoing development process, starting from this project."
Mrs Fernandez said the project demonstrated how the food could be grown locally and how the residents of the communities could take ownership and responsibility for their own projects and community.
by Cameron Myles
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