Past
Food and Stories with Indian Friends
Fundraiser: Good People Out There
Information Session: 2011 Arnhem Weavers Workshops
Fundraiser: Pedal-Powered Film Festival
A Very Special Visit from Pitchandikulam
Since its inception CERES Global has visited Pitchandikulam Forest in southern India to support their work with forest revegetation, women’s empowerment and teacher training in English,Computers and Environmental Education. Lourdes Epinal and Madhu are pivotal members of the Pitchandikulam team and they are responsible for many of the innovative projects currently operating in the villages surrounding Pitchandikulam forest.
CERES Global was very excited to be able to host these two very special guests. On Wednesday 24th November they gave an informative and inspirational presentation, in the Eco House, about their recent work with women’s groups and wetland reconstruction. Many past CERES Global travellers were able to attend and reconnect with Lourdes and Madhu, and our travellers about to embark were able to meet with them before working alongside them in Pitchandikulam in January this year.
Good People Out There: Single's Drinks Fundraiser
On Thursday 25th November 2010 CERES Global in collaboration with Good People Out There hosted a single’s drinks fundraiser at the very funky Kitten Club in the city. The night brought together a lively bunch of unattached guys and girls who all share community, environmental, spiritual and/or social justice ideals. It was a night of fun, laughter and sparks, and who knows, perhaps a few number exchanges!
Proceeds from the event went towards project work carried out over January and February this year in Indian village communities, developing women’s self help group workshops, conducting English teacher training and supporting alternative technology projects.
For more information about future Good People Out There events please contact goodpeopleoutthere@gmail.com.
2011 Arnhem Weavers Workshops Information Session
On Thursday 9th December 2010 CERES Global held an information session about this year's upcoming Weaving Workshop programs. Nia, our group facilitator for the July trip, was both informative and inspirational, outlining the logistics of the program and the benefit of the program to the local Mapuru community members. CERES Global will be taking two groups of 15 people to East Arnhemland to learn the art of basket weaving from local indigenous women in June and July this year.
Pedal-Powered Film Festival
CERES Global was privileged to run two trips out to the remote Homeland community of Mapuru in East Arnhemland in early June and late July. While the advertised objective of the trip was for women to learn to weave, and for men (in the July trip) to learn bush survival skills, we all left with far more than baskets, bark paintings and didgeridoos. Through their hands on and intuitive guidance under the weaving shelter, in the mangrove forest, on the mudplains, during a buffalo hunt, swimming in the water whole, gathering pandanus, and around the bush fire, the gentle people of Mapuru opened our western eyes to a glimmer of the knowledge and wisdom of Yolngu culture.
Mapuru is approximately 1000 km east of Darwin with a population of around 100 people. The Arnhem Weavers was established in 2003 by two elders who wanted to preserve their ancestral culture, ensure financial self sufficiency, and open up inter-cultural exchange between balanda (white people) and indigenous people.
