African Australian friendship garden

The “African friendship garden” will be a space within Pentridge Community Garden where members of the African diaspora come together with local gardeners to grow food and build community.

The initiative draws from the Zimbabwean “friendship bench” tradition, providing a “mental health first aid” resource for the community.

The project will grow traditional African crops like maize and peanuts (supported by the University of Melbourne), collaborating with Pentridge Community Garden members. The project will also include events that allow the wider community to celebrate the project and share the food we grow.

Members of the local African-Australian community are vulnerable to mental health challenges as they build support networks, economic independence and friendships in a new country. Some have experienced severe trauma, and social isolation which is exacerbated by stigma towards mental health issues.

The African friendship garden will provide:
-A meeting place, for people to connect and build community, reducing social isolation
-Access to credentialed nurse and Mental Health First Aid trained community leaders
-The opportunity to explore pathways to further services
-A source of fresh food including traditional crops not readily available in Australia
-A way to keep traditions alive.