Evangeline – Senior Artsworker for Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation. Photo: Richard Wainwright.
Two years after featuring in Project Compassion’s campaign, Evangeline is now building on her success story to benefit her community.
Caritas Australia is helping youth in First Australian communities to strengthen their culture and create opportunities for their communities.
Evangeline is employed as a Senior Artsworker for Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation in Beswick, Wugularr – which is 100km east of Katherine in the Northern Territory.
Featured in Project Compassion 2016, Evangeline went from seeking employment to being an inspirational leader for youth.
Today, she is strengthening Aboriginal culture, while making a living for herself and creating opportunities for her community.
Her work at Djilpin Arts Aboriginal Corporation, a not-for-profit organisation, has supported the organisation’s growth from a multi-media project to a multi-level contemporary arts and culture centre.
An example of excellence in Indigenous tourism, it is now a major employer for young people in the remote Northern Territory community.
Evangeline’s community – of about 450 people – faces a range of challenges stemming from the violent experience of colonisation, including sparse employment opportunities, crowded housing, alcohol and health problems, financial hardship, and a lack of access to services.
Limited political influence continues to disempower Australia’s indigenous people.
Lack of opportunity draws young people away from their country and culture into towns and cities where they are most vulnerable.
It is a busy 2018 year for Evangeline working at Djilpin Arts.
Her main duties involve guiding tourists, coordinating cultural activities, and helping community members to practise and market their arts, such as weaving and jewellery-making.
“Now we have a new gallery up, and we have our new kitchens, we look after these and we now maintain this to make sure it’s running okay and in good condition,” Evangeline said.
“We’re also trying to open up another tour for tourists to go around the waterfall; we’re just planning that now.”
Evangeline believes that Caritas Australia’s support for Djilpin Arts, through Project Compassion, is vital for all Wugularr’s young people.
Although their families do their best to pass on knowledge, elders are dying and she is keen to spearhead the preservation of culture and lore for future generations.
“It’s good for them to learn and to keep their culture strong,” she added.