In Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and surrounding communities, First Nations men gather each week through Children's Ground's Artwemape (Men's Group) to care for Country, mentor young fellas, and strengthen their role as leaders in family and community life.

Children's Ground - an Indigenous organisation dedicated to empowering youth - is seeking support to continue and expand this work through its Artwemape Campaign. The group said donations directly support the employment of men in communities in Central Australia as role models and leaders.

This week, every donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000 thanks to major funding partners, doubling the impact of contributions as the campaign works toward its $150,000 target.

Children's Ground describes Artwemape as "employment grounded in opportunity, culture and responsibility".

The organisation employs First Nations men "into steady roles that begin with practical work and grow into leadership over time".

"Men often start in hands on positions such as maintenance, repairs, transport, setting up activities and supporting cultural camps. Through consistent work, they build confidence, workplace capability and cultural authority, stepping into mentoring, teaching and leadership within the group," Children's Ground said.

"In many First Nations communities, children learn through observation and participation in daily life. When children see their fathers, grandfathers and uncles going to work, caring for Country and showing up each day, they learn what responsibility and steadiness look like in practice. Boys see pathways grounded in culture and pride. Girls grow up seeing men who are steady and present in family life."

Artwemape Senior Men's & Youth Worker Michael Gorey said it is important for young people to connect with Country.

"It's good to take them out on camp and sleep out bush under the stars. We sit down and have a yarn, talk about what we're going to do in the morning," he said.

"Going out bush with the young fellas, out of town and away from their phones and other distractions, gives them space to listen and learn. We take them out on Country away from drugs and alcohol. We connect them back."

Artwemape Youth Worker Roland Ferber said "it's good for us to show others".

"The ones that have been away from Country and staying in town for a long time, we take them back out onto Country and teach them again," Mr Ferber said.

"We carry our culture in us. We show it to the young ones. That's powerful for them. They're language will get stronger. They can keep it for their children, and their children, generation to generation."

Children's Ground noted that First Nations men must navigate limited access to culturally responsive education and training, stigma and racism, narrow public stereotypes, barriers to consistent employment and ongoing health pressures - while also carrying "deep cultural knowledge and responsibility for Country, kinship and children".

"Artwemape creates a pathway for men to exercise that responsibility through meaningful, culturally grounded work. Funds raised during the matched giving week will directly support men's employment and leadership development to ensure Artwemape remains consistent, community led and culturally strong," the organisation said.

Children's Ground Learning & Wellbeing, Language & Culture Standards Practice Coordinator Melarli Gorey said that since the Howard government's Intervention "and times before", the men in communities "have had a negative light on them" which "took away their power".

"Having this men's group, it's showing that our men are leaders. They always have been," she said.

"Giving them the opportunity to show everyone their skills and their leadership and their knowledge, it's all about creating space."

Children's Ground invites individuals, workplaces and community groups to contribute and help unlock the full $50,000 in matched funding until Friday 6 March. Donations can be done online.