By KATE VALLENCE
GEELONG’S council will provide $6000 for seven “young community leaders” to film in Nepal a documentary about diversity.
Councillors voted last week to give the Climb Above InTolerance project $3000 after it asked for $1000 for the trip to climb Mera Peak.
Councillors had already provided $3000 from an arts community grants program.
Climb Above InTolerance trek leader Brad Clarke said the project would develop participants’ leadership skills, in turn benefitting their communities.
Mr Clarke, who cited more than a decade of experience as a youth worker, said he was working with Geelong charity support agency Give Where You Live and multicultural services provider Diversitat to raise funding for the trek.
“The purpose of the trip is to invest in our young community leaders, get them out of their comfort zones and challenge them,” he said.
Mr Clarke said the trek group had been training hard, recently completing a round-trip walk between Geelong and Airey’s Inlet.
Council multicultural affairs portfolio holder Eddie Kontelj said the project was an exciting, unique opportunity for the participants.
Council’s community arts funding supported the development and delivery of projects that “enrich the community and maximise community inclusion”, he said.
“Strict guidelines are in place to ensure the group produce what they are setting out to do.”
Mr Clarke said after the trek he would work with the participants to complete and screen the documentary locally.
