Three Programs for Environmental Engagement
OUR EARTH
Our Earth is an after-school program that aims to tell stories about nature and the planet to children from refugee communities in Clarkston, GA. Kids from different refugee communities in Clarkston and other cities nearby gather to listen to beautiful and inspiring stories about nature and the environment. Our storytellers are professional storytellers or volunteers who love reading and telling stories to children.
Depending on the weather, our storytelling workshops take place indoors or outdoors.
Kids Age: 4 to 7
Location: Clarkston, GA
Frequency: Twice a week
GONDWANA LEARNING GARDEN
Gondwana Learning Garden is more than a garden. It is a safe space where refugee kids from Metro Atlanta gather to learn how nature feeds us. It is also a place where kids and their families connect with Nature and learn how to eat healthy food.
The Gondwana Learning Garden will have four main components: the woodland shade section, the pollinator sun section, the veggie section, and the herb section. Each area plays a specific role in the kids' journey in the garden. For instance, the pollinator section is where kids learn about insects and their relationship with plants for us to be able to grow food.
Age(s): 7 to 10, 11 to 14
Location: Clarkston International Garden
Frequency: Once a week
CLARKSTON YOUTH HIKING CLUB
Twende Porini Foundation engages kids and young adults from refugee communities with outdoor activities to connect them to nature and improve their health and mental health. We organize monthly hiking opportunities throughout the year with children ages 9 to 13 in different parks and nature preserves around Metro Atlanta.
Parents are also encouraged to attend these events. Many parents in the resettled refugee community are hesitant to allow their children to participate in activities away from home, especially in a new country. By encouraging parents to join the hiking sessions, they are able to experience the program first-hand, which ultimately helps to establish trust.
Age: 9 to 13
Location: Metro Atlanta Area
Frequency: Once a month
