In Milingimbi, East Arnhem Land, a powerful model of community-led, culturally grounded education is taking shape. Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) is proud to partner with Solid Rootz to support its growth and long-term impact.

Together, we share a belief that education is strongest when it is led by community and grounded in culture and lived experience.

Solid Rootz was founded through Yolŋu leadership and delivers programs designed and led by community, creating meaningful opportunities for young people to learn, grow and stay connected to culture.

Photo provided by Solid Rootz

In Milingimbi, limited access to formal education makes community-led learning essential. With a young and growing population, the need for culturally relevant programs that support engagement, wellbeing and future pathways is clear – an approach at the core of Solid Rootz’s work.

At the heart of the organisation’s work are the Yindi Dhukarr cultural camps, where young people travel to homelands and learn directly from Elders through storytelling, mentorship and connection to land and sea. These experiences support the transmission of cultural knowledge while strengthening identity and belonging.

Photos provided by Solid Rootz

Beyond these programs, Solid Rootz is developing a Youth Employment & Cultural Enterprise Hub that integrates education with creative and practical pathways.

This includes a Mixed Media and Music Studio, where young people learn digital storytelling and record cultural knowledge, and a Creative Arts and Design Hub, where participants explore identity through hands-on artistic practice. A community-led food enterprise further connects culture, skills development and employment, creating a space for gathering, learning and sharing.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate how education can be embedded across community life – through culture, creativity, enterprise and connection to Country.

Photos provided by Solid Rootz

Through this collaborative venture, IEF will support Solid Rootz to build the systems, capacity and resources needed to expand its impact. This includes supporting governance, employment pathways and the development of sustainable community-led enterprises.

The vision for Solid Rootz follows a three-five year transition model, with the goal of Solid Rootz becoming a fully independent, community-controlled organisation managing its own programs, staff and funding.

By working together, IEF and Solid Rootz aim to create long-term, culturally grounded education pathways that empower Yolŋu youth and strengthen community resilience.

This partnership reflects IEF’s commitment to supporting Indigenous-led initiatives that recognise cultural knowledge as a foundation for education, wellbeing and sustainable futures.

Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF)