Building Vibrant Communities: film explores educational efforts in Queensland

An educational process inviting one and all to become positive agents of change has been unfolding in a diversity of settings across Southern Queensland.

In a new film titled Building Vibrant Communities, individuals of all backgrounds have reflected on how their involvement in community-building has inspired them to contribute towards the advancement of their locality.

The narratives reveal how groups of families and individuals in a diversity of settings can make impactful change according to their own circumstances. In one Gold Coast pocket, in the neighbourhood of Southport, a group of families have been coming together over the past two years to contribute to the emergence of a “pattern of community life”. 

“When we go to the park, more and more people know each other, and not just people in the same age group,” one of the participants said. 

“People come to the main hub and they feel at home. People ranging from the age of six years old to their parents and grandparents. 

“This is what a pattern of community life starts to look like within a country that doesn’t necessarily have this in most suburbs.”

In another space, young professionals and adults from a diversity of backgrounds, especially from the Brazilian community, have been gathering to enhance their English skills. 

These friends have been using material from the Junior Youth Spiritual Empowerment Program to improve their English while connecting with others in a space that is warm and inclusive. 

“Language Cafe is a place where I go when I want to have a great connection with people, great conversations about anything, where I can be myself,” says one of the participants. 

“The main idea behind this project is to come here, to improve our language while we have meaningful conversations.” 

“Every time we would read a chapter we would have a discussion about what happens … about confirmations, about trust in God, about loving and helping each other. 

“Although it seems simple at the same time it’s quite profound.”

In a different setting, a group of families decided to create Friday night spaces that would be a “haven for all mankind”. 

“It started by having conversations with the parents,” says one mother. 

“Our Friday night space is a bustling, busy night. We play games together, we sing happy birthday, we have a beautiful devotional program.” 

The Friday night spaces included two nights devoted to mental health. From that evolved an ongoing men’s group which has now morphed into a men’s study circle.

There are also a number of spiritual education classes for children and young people. Driven by the Ruhi Training Institute, all these initiatives provide a “sense of purpose” and will continue to evolve into an expanding community-building process where everyone feels a sense of agency. 

To learn more about the different settings in which community-building efforts are unfolding across the region, watch the full documentary below: