Footprint Enterprises Inc.

Footprint Enterprises began when its founding members attended the Brightest Young Minds summit in Sydney, 2008 wanting to focus on the social inclusion of primarily refugee youth through the creative arts. It was here that the pilot, the Grounded Project was born in 2009 consisting of eight weeks of workshops where students were mentored by professional artists in the areas of Hip Hop, African drumming and Dance, and Visual Arts. This culminated in a one night event where the students had the opportunity to showcase their talents in Dandenong on World Refugee Day (20th June, 2009).

We hope to inspire and educate - addressing racial tensions in Australia. The Footprints team have a vision to see transformation in the lives and outlooks of Australians who currently hold racial prejudices through seeing positive images of culturally diverse young people in a different light.

Footprint Enterprises Inc. work from the premise that social inclusion is a mutual goal that both the local community and newly arrived communities must work towards. Through this process all groups involved must negotiate what social inclusion means to them and what they are prepared to do to make it happen for everyone.

“I came to Australia as a refugee from Bosnia. I couldn’t speak English and it was difficult settling into Noble Park. I have now completed my Medical Degree at Melbourne University and I think you often hear the negative stories about refugees. I want to share and enhance positive refugee experiences”. Jasmina Kevric, Co-founder, Footprints Enterprises Inc.
Our Collective Vision
• To educate our young people about the importance of cultural history and identity, the joy of being creative and focused, and the empowerment of connecting as a community.
• To promote mutual respect, open-mindedness and social equality – to reduce violence, substance abuse, and discrimination.
• To challenge social and institutional racism and prejudice that exists in Australia.
• To bring diverse people together and build strong relationships through music and performing arts.

Current Project: The Grounded Project
The GROUNDED Project represents diverse young people in Melbourne’s West and South Eastern suburbs uniting through grassroots youth culture to pursue positive social change for our community.
The Grounded Project values arts engagement as a tool for social inclusion recognizing mentoring as a vital tool in creating social change.
The Grounded Project focuses on the commonalities of individuals while celebrating and respecting our differences.
Grounded will see the collaboration of two community driven organisations: Footprints Enterprises - representing the South East; and Jungle City Projects - representing the West, joining forces to make this happen.




The project consists of three elements:

Community Development Workshops from South East to West (based on Grounded 2009)
Throughout 2016, the young people part of the GROUNDED project from the South East and the Western suburbs of Melbourne will meet to discuss issues facing their community and how the GROUNDED project can combat them. They will also take part in events, workshops and other activities delivered by JCP and FE to build stronger relationships among the united group.

• South East component of the project consisting of:
- Monthly meetings from February - April 2017 hosted in the City of Greater Dandenong (Wednesday nights at REVEL Nights at YSAS Dandenong or Thursday nights at FReeZA committee or Friday nights at SSAYU meetings) and Brunswick to discuss project planning and form a steering committee.
- Two project officers originating from the City of Greater Dandenong have been identified to co-manage the project.
- Promotional lunchtime performances at selected schools in the South East starting March highlighting Cultural Diversity Week.
- Fortnightly or monthly sessions (April 2017 onwards - TBA) at REVEL Nights at YSAS featuring Spoken Word, Dance styles, Hip Hop MC and cultural arts workshops. A range of facilitators from across the South East and Melbourne would rotate to discuss and produce works based on the relevence of different art forms. Project mentors and youth workers will attend to support and build community and support referalls to agencies.
- A potential outcome maybe a youth-led “Social Cohesion Unconference” located in the City of Greater Dandenong.

2. The Grounded camp (based on the Gua camps hosted in 2011 and 2013))
A three day performance and leadership camp at Wilson’s Prom in January 2017 where forty young people from culturally diverse backgrounds aged of 16 – 30 are provided the opportunity to be mentored by creative professionals and develop artistic pieces exploring identity and the root issues behind racial and ethnic tensions in Victoria.

3. The Grounded concert (based on the Ubuntu youth stage hosted at VIVA Victoria in 2011, 2012, 2013)
The Grounded concert - located at Harmony Square, Dandenong and taking place during a one day fiesta on 25th March, 2017 will bring to the main stage the artistic pieces created by the camp and workshop participants - who will have the once in a life time oppotunity to perform alongside a string of Melbourne greats.
- Building up to the leadup of the Ubuntu concert a Flash mob will pop up at State Library of Victoria (on Friday 17th March) during peak hour to promote the concert and project.

Footprints is an Auspice of Borderlands Cooperative Ltd.

Contact

2 Minona st
Hawthorn VIC 3122
Australia