Soil2Soul
creating training and meaningful employment pathways
Soil2Soil is LeaderLife’s Social Enterprise designed to develop work readiness skills and supported casual employment across the agriculture industry.
In 2019 we leased a Lime Farm in Narromine. Working in partnership with a registered training organisation we deliver vocational training for mostly young Indigenous people aged 15-25, who have disengaged from education or are on the edge of the criminal justice system. In 2020, the young people harvested 156,000 limes which were sold into Coles supermarkets and began making artisan lime cordial, which is available via our online shop. Local businesses support this initiative, purchasing freshly picked limes for their cafes, restaurants and bars.
Soil2Soul has evolved and expanded to include a Syntropic Agroforest, Aquaponics system and yard maintenance enterprise, where young people are working shoulder to shoulder with trained specialists and youth workers to gain the skills they need to move to mainstream employment. Of the 40 young people casually employed through these initiatives, 67% have moved on to secure further employment with local businesses.
‘if we are going to keep kids out of trouble and off the streets, we have to start our own business and get them jobs. But jobs with mentors who can teach us how to work and people who understand us kids.’
One of our young Fellas.
