News

Junior Landcare groups

People often ask how they can start a Junior Landcare group.

With the theme of International Youth Day being Youth Engagement for Global Action there is no better time to participate in Junior Landcare.

We encourage youth to engage with others and their environments and Junior Landcare presents an ideal opportunity to do this. Junior Landcare groups look different all over Australia. Sometimes they are part of Landcare Groups, community groups and are associated with Junior Landcare grants in schools and Landcare groups.

You can search for local Junior Landcare groups using the National Landcare Directory using your postcode. We welcome you to start your own and the Junior Landcare Learning Centre provides lots of ideas to encourage children to be Aware, Empowered and Active.

Junior Landcare is also international. Here is a story from Uganda about involving youth in Junior Landcare activities.

Junior Landcare in Uganda

During the 1st Uganda National Landcare Conference and Awards held in Kabale, Uganda held late 2019, the community based organisation Kabale Agroforestry Network organised a Junior Landcare Week to coincide with the Conference.

The Junior Landcare Week had various activities including student writing and painting competitions, music, dance and drama competitions, poem composition and recitals, and a school garden competition. There was a tree planting function attended by guests, government officials, parents and pupils. A major highlight of the event was a street walk through the town with the Mayor as Chief Walker, exploring the exhibitions created by the Junior Landcare Schools.

Foreign guests came from all over the globe including Australia, Sweden, South Africa and Kenya. The Uganda Landcare Network organised the National Conference together with the Kabale Agroforestry Network who provided local support. The Uganda Landcare Network works with 12 Primary Schools and 3 landslide-prone community sites. They aim to make the Landcare Week an annual event if they have financial support.

Jimmy Musiime from the Uganda Landcare Network shared this story with Landcare Australia via our share your story on the Junior Landcare website. Share your story and help inspire others on their Junior Landcare journey.

Yours in Junior Landcare,

Mary Bell
Junior Landcare Education Program Manager