Organisation:

Friends of Caboolture Shire Libraries Association Inc

Project Name:

A Year in Harmony

Suburb:

CABOOLTURE

State:

Queensland   

Amount:

$26,684

Project Summary:

Among the new residents in the Caboolture Shire an increasing number are identified as emerging communities.  These include Samoan, Sri Lankan, Pakistan, Middle Eastern, African and South American. Traditionally Caboolture has not had a strong multicultural population.

This project will develop a Community Buddy Mentoring program in which new community members will be matched with established mainstream community members as 12 month buddies.  The older local residents will mentor new migrants on local, social, cultural, economic and government systems and the new residents will open up their cultures and concerns.  Both parties can be assisted by local support agencies (libraries, Lifeline, Centacare).  There will also be a series of activities to promote understanding of religious diversity and create multi faith dialogues.  Educational activities will include a public forum, mini lecture, school competition (around book week), study circle, open day and Harmony Day celebrations.  Speakers for these activities will be drawn from the local community.