Australian ''social capitalist'' Peter Kenyon visited Green Island last week, aiming to increase the engagement levels of greater Green Island residents with their community.
Greater Green Island Community Network community worker Lynda Davidson invited the West Australian to speak at two meetings in the Lighthouse Baptist Church on November 17.
''We wanted inspiration from Peter because he's been there, done that.''
Mr Kenyon worked with the group South Alive in April 2012 to rejuvenate South Invercargill.
Since the meeting, South Invercargill residents had volunteered about 11,000 hours to rejuvenate the area.
''If you look at the face of South Invercargill it has changed forever for the best.''
The changes would never have happened without the community driving the projects, he said.
In Green Island on Tuesday, a select group were invited to a morning meeting to create a ''youth engagement plan''.
The network had struggled to engage young people in the area, Mrs Davidson said.
Mr Kenyon had helped develop youth strategies for communities around the world.
''Most of us look at our young people as leaders of tomorrow but I think we have to see them as citizens of today. They bring an energy and creativity older groups often lack,'' Mr Kenyon said.
For the afternoon meeting, another public workshop focused on playgrounds, road safety and beautification of Green Island.
The issues discussed included investigating creating a playground at Green Island Memorial Gardens, improving pedestrian safety on the intersections of Shand St and Howden St and working with Dunedin City Council urban designer Peter Christos to beautify the area.
Ms Davidson said from the meetings a core group of passionate people would be formed to drive future projects.
