Sandfire has been a proud sponsor of EON Foundation’s Thriving Communities Program at Meekatharra District High School since the program’s commencement in the Mid-West of WA in 2019.
The program is a nutrition-focused healthy lifestyle and disease prevention program, which has three integrated components aimed at providing a holistic approach to disease prevention.
These three pillars include the Edible Garden, Healthy Eating, and Training, Education and Employment.
Edible Garden
The Edible Garden is a large vegetable, bush food and fruit garden established and maintained at the local community school. The children have access to the fresh produce and learn how to grow it through regular lessons from EON Project Managers. For five years the EON Project Manager visits fortnightly to deliver hands-on gardening classes to school and pre-school children. Families and community members also have access to the garden to harvest fresh produce.
Healthy Eating
Healthy Eating provides a comprehensive nutrition and cooking program for children and adults to increase knowledge about the importance of a healthy diet. This program is part of the school’s weekly timetable, and the EON Project Manager uses the garden produce to deliver fortnightly classes in nutrition, cooking and hygiene for the children.
Training, Education and Employment
Horticultural and nutrition training is provided to senior students and adult community members to sustain the gardens and provide employment pathways. When possible, EON employs local community members to help deliver the program.
The Thriving Communities Program is delivered on-ground by EON Foundation’s dedicated, and locally based Project Managers. You can find out more about the program at www.eon.org.au
You can learn more about our approach to our local communities here.
