Another bound for Costa Rica.
Costa Rica seems to be the place for young members of our local community
willing to lend a hand.Castlemaine resident Catherine Tudor will be joining
Riddles Creek student,Fran Henry later this year in the small Central
American country as part of a youth challenge Australia (YCA) project.
Costa Rica: Projects Depart May, September, December
10 week - 18 to 25 years
AUS $3400 + airfare
Join an international team of volunteers and travel to Costa Rica or Guyana
to work with local people on powerful community based projects. Live in
remote villages beyond the reach of traditional support networks. Discover
the key principles of sound community development and learn from local
leaders who are making a difference.
This is a rich cross-cultural exchange, made even more profound through the
dynamics of group living. Half the fun is getting there!
Aqueducts, Wells and Schools
Youth Challenge projects improve community life by establishing new health
posts, schools, aqueducts, wells, bridges, community centres and community
kitchens. Most projects occur in rural communities that are beyond the
reach of many basic services. Each project is a catalyst for community
participation and a magnet for local youth. Beyond the work of building
physical structures, Youth Challenge also helps build community capacity to
sustain these facilities. Local community groups participate in the design
and implementation of Youth Challenge projects and provide a portion of the
necessary resources.
Rainforest Projects
Participants help local biologist and park rangers preserve and reclaim
rainforests. YCA teams work with local community members and rangers to
strengthen community involvement in the protection of fragile Conservation
Areas. Participants improve park trails and facilities, and help deliver
environmental education programs for local school students living near
threatened areas.
Eye Surgery
Since 1990, Youth Challenge has worked with surgical teams from around the
world to help restore sight to more than 1,200 people in Costa Rica, the
Solomon Islands and Guyana. Working with local and international
ophthalmologists, Youth Challenge teams are trained to identify cataracts,
assist in admission procedures and pre-operative care, observe surgery,
care for patients after surgery, and help return patients to their
communities.
Youth Skills Summits
Youth Skills Summits bring hundreds of youth together from remote
communities for a three day jamboree to explore topics on health, career,
family and relationships. Workshops, seminars and games help participants
set personal goals and develop job search strategies that are grounded in
the realities of the local economy. Dynamic team-building exercises foster
cooperation and self-confidence, and show young people how to use the
resources they already have to reach their goals.
Mobile Health Workshops
YCI teams travel with local health workers to help deliver health education
workshops to children and families through school classes and community
gatherings. Workshops focus on the specific health concerns in each
community, including water treatment, food preparation, latrine placement,
nutrition and dental hygiene.
Solid community work is interspersed with course work, as well as learning
modules requiring you to stand and deliver - making this a powerful,
unmatched experience. A definite career booster, drawing squarely on the
principle that the quality of the outcome is based on your contribution!
Advanced Wilderness First Aid Course ($350 value)
This 36 hour course provides the knowledge and skills to save lives and to
manage common medical problems in remote environments. Topics include
leadership, prevention strategies, CPR, patient assessment, improvising
with equipment, and anticipating and managing problems. Includes
certification in 4 protocols: anaphylaxis treatment, field wound
management, modified CPR protocol, and spinal injury evaluation. Mornings
involve interactive classroom discussions and afternoons are devoted to
practical, hands-on sessions and simulations. Exceptional instruction from
qualified individuals with years of experience.
Risk management and decision-making
Interactive workshops, simulations, case studies and discussions throughout
the Leadership Practicum will give you the confidence and the base
experience to effectively manage people and projects in remote locations.
Learning modules interspersed throughout the program will build excellent
foundational skills for leaders of groups as well as project managers. You
will explore a range of decision-making tools and styles suitable for
various situations. You will learn how to recognize and evaluate safety
risks and hazards.
Skills Building Seminar
This one belongs to you! This is the component where we ask you to design
and implement your own seminar. The topic will depend on your interests,
but other people have taken the lead with things like: cross-cultural or
group dynamics skills, conflict resolution tools, leadership styles,
decision-making scenarios, time management, health topics, project planning
and design, project evaluation, principles of sound community development,
case studies in partnership etc.
Expedition Module
Depending on the terrain and the location of your community project, your
team will undertake a 3-5 day expedition. Group leaders will make the most
of learning opportunities as they naturally arise on the course of your
journey. Hands-on problem solving tasks will call on your creativity and
initiative as well as your common sense. Your group will emerge with the
skills and bonds to ensure your community project is a success.
Community based project
Following the expedition phase, your team will complete a 3-4 week
community development project in a remote location. You'll learn about
grassroots development first hand. Projects will be confirmed closer to
your departure date, but may include community infrastructure (aqueducts,
schools, health posts, clinics), health work or environmental research. All
Youth Challenge projects are community-based and driven by local needs.
Youth Skills Summits
Youth Skills Summits bring hundreds of youth together from remote
communities for a three day jamboree to explore topics on health, career,
family and relationships. Workshops, seminars and games help participants
set personal goals and develop Jobs search strategies that are grounded in
the realities of the local economy. Dynamic team building exercises foster
cooperation and self-confidence, and show young people how to use the
resources they already have to reach their goals.
At the beginning of 2001 Youth Challenge Australia and Australian
Volunteers International came together to develop a "Youth Initiative".
This has resulted in 10 week Programs now being run in
India: Projects Depart August and December
Philippines: Projects Depart December
Papua New Guinea: Projects depart July
10 weeks - 18 to 25 years
AUS $3400 + airfare
If you are interested in these projects - the process remains the same. You
may apply through Youth Challenge or Australian Volunteers and you will
then be invited to one of our selection days.
The Youth Initiative is part of the wider Youth Challenge International
program and has been developed in partnership with Australian Volunteers
International Youth Challenge Australia (YCA).
http://www.uts.edu.au/oth/yca/
