Roman Deguchi and Matt Coe of Redfern are on a mission to give back to their community through their social enterprise, WildFlower Gardens for Good, an Indigenous-led, not-for-profit that empowers disadvantaged local youth whilst creating beautiful native gardens for everyone to enjoy.
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Their latest project is transforming the grounds of St Andrew’s College at the University of Sydney into a lush native garden. For Deguchi and Coe, it’s especially meaningful to beautify and educate on the land they grew up on.
The duo employs around 20 young men from Redfern and Waterloo, most working their first job ever. By choosing WildFlower, organisations can support reducing crime rates and empowering youth facing barriers to employment.
It’s their way of giving back to the Redfern community that supported Deguchi when he was struggling as a youth.
Through the social enterprise, they aim to break down barriers by employing and mentoring local young men aged 19-25, including some who have had run-ins with the law. Their goal is to provide opportunities and guidance to some of the disadvantaged youth from their neighborhood.
Beyond greenscaping and land management, WildFlower builds interactive gardens in schools and educates about native ecosystems. Their blend of lived experience and green expertise makes them authentic community builders.
The results are already blossoming at St Andrew’s. Birds like magpies and kookaburras are flocking to the thoughtfully planted grounds. Students can also look forward to an engaging, colourful, and sustainable native garden integrated into campus life.
For St Andrew’s College, working with this social enterprise is also part of their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“Not only does this project reintroduce native plants and create a vibrant space for socializing and studying, but it also provides meaningful employment opportunities for the Indigenous community,” St Andrew’s College stated.
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Meanwhile, WildFlower has a busy 2024 ahead, with a second native garden slated for the Gadigal Centre at the University of Sydney. Through urban greening and youth empowerment, Deguchi and Coe are sowing the seeds for a healthier community.
Published 17-February-2024
