NEPAFE is currently working with Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) through its Small Grants Program. We are thankful for CANA’s support, which has enabled us to organise two successful workshops with migrant and refugee communities in Wagga Wagga and Griffith. These workshops focused on raising awareness about climate change, promoting sustainable practices, and encouraging community-led advocacy. Through this partnership, we are engaging underrepresented communities in climate dialogue and building inclusive, grassroots climate action across regional NSW.

Advocacy Campaign: The workshops effectively laid the foundation for grassroots advocacy campaigns by engaging participants in meaningful activities and discussions.

• Dr. Baburam Bhattarai’s presentation provided valuable insights into holding polluters accountable and transitioning to clean energy, sparking active engagement.
• Participants worked on matching common causes of climate change to practical solutions, fostering awareness of key issues and actionable strategies.
• Brochures detailing climate change causes, consequences, and mitigation strategies were distributed to participants, supporting continued learning and advocacy.

Community Workshops: These workshops served as a powerful educational platform, welcoming participants from highly diverse religious, cultural, and national backgrounds, including Afghan, Burmese, Iranian, Iraqi, Nepali, Sikh, and Indian communities.

• Translator services were utilized during the Wagga Wagga session to ensure inclusivity and effective communication.
• Poster presentations encouraged interactive discussions, while hands-on activities involved identifying day-to-day climate change issues and personal-level solutions, empowering attendees to take actionable steps.
• Feedback and knowledge-sharing sessions provided valuable insights, fostering collaboration and mutual learning among attendees.

Partnership Development: Collaborations with local organizations and leaders were strengthened through the workshops, fostering a community-centered approach to climate action.

• Discussions with diverse participants helped align efforts toward shared goals of climate action and thought process.
• Feedback collected during formal sessions and informal discussions highlighted the importance of collective efforts and strengthened the foundation for future collaboration.

Youth Engagement: Youth involvement was a standout feature, with creative activities designed to inspire the next generation of climate leaders:

• Picture-based exercises engaged young participants with parents in identifying environmental issues and brainstorming solutions.
• Children worked on drawing posters that depicted their understanding of climate challenges and possible solutions, combining creativity with critical thinking.
• Youth discussions encouraged sharing ideas on sustainable practices and practical changes within their schools and homes, fostering a sense of responsibility and proactive engagement.

Informal Engagement and Feedback: Both events featured food and refreshments for participants, creating a welcoming and informal atmosphere:

• During these breaks, informal discussions and feedback sessions were conducted, allowing participants to share candid insights and ideas.
• These interactions helped build stronger connections among attendees and provided valuable feedback for improving future workshops.

Conclusion: The NEPAFE workshops achieved the criteria by promoting grassroots advocacy, fostering educational engagement, strengthening partnerships, and empowering youth participation. By emphasizing cultural inclusivity, interactive learning, and practical solutions, the workshops advanced the agenda of climate justice and community-driven environmental protection.

Important lessons learned by NEPAFE as an organiser and following recommendations for us to ensure even greater impact of these activities in future events:

• Enhanced Language Support: Including more translators and multilingual materials to ensure all participants can actively contribute and learn.
• Expanded Youth Outreach: Partnering with schools, youth organizations, and community groups to encourage greater youth participation. Incorporating more dynamic activities, such as games or environmental challenges, to captivate their interest.
• Formal Feedback Mechanisms: Developing structured feedback forms or digital surveys to collect detailed participant responses alongside informal interactions.
• Longer Event Format: Considering extending the duration to two days to allow for deeper discussions, breakout sessions, and interactive workshops.
• Brochure Follow-Up: Creating follow-up strategies to ensure participants engage with the distributed brochures, such as follow-up calls or providing links to online resources for continued learning.

By addressing these areas, future events can be built on the successes of these workshops, creating a more inclusive, impactful, and sustainable platform for climate advocacy and community empowerment.

Dr. Yakindra Timilsena

Dr. Timilsena is a food scientist with more than 20 years of experience in food safety & security, quality control, food processing and product development and nutrition.