"Self-Esteem Program & Camp" (2001)

Integration Of Young Families with CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) Background Project 2006 - 2009

SAPH Vision Quest Association Inc. will run a community integration programme for disadvantaged young people and families from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Migrant or Refugee backgrounds living in lower south-east Queensland. Project activities will be conducted in the period July 2006 until January 2009.

The ?Integration Of Young Families with CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) Background Project? will assist 264 young people and 160 adults from disadvantaged groups in the Gold Coast region, with primary focus on the communities of Stephens, Labrador, Bilinga, Coolangatta, Palm Beach, Southport and Burleigh. It will provide them with the confidence and skills required to integrate within their local communities.

The project will link families, schools, communities and services together to provide training and support through a series of youth camps, training programmes and workshops, including group mentoring. These activities will provide participants with vital life skills, which will: increase their self-esteem and self-confidence; help them to communicate better with others; teach them to work as part of a group or community; increase their respect for cultural differences; and equip them to participate in their communities.

This will lead, in turn, to stronger, more balanced and self-sufficient communities as participants in the programme become leaders or volunteers themselves, helping others to grow.
 

April ? September 2005:

Project Focus: Young people, primarily 10 - 15 years of age, with a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and/or indigenous background, resident on the Gold Coast. A special focus of this project was young people from families or communities who are recent arrivals to Australia and the Gold Coast (e.g. migrants or refugees).

Project Aim: The project was aimed at building community capacity among young people by increasing youth participants' self-esteem, finding common ground amongst the different cultures, and subsequently presenting both the 'diversity' and 'commonality' of those cultures to the wider community in the form of a cultural display/forum.

Summary of Activities:

A weekend youth camp was conducted in the Gold Coast Hinterland on 27th - 29th May 2005 for 36 culturally diverse young people with primarily a migrant and/or refugee background. The largest group comprised 15 children from the Gold Coast Bosnian Community. Food, cabin accommodation and program materials were provided. The camps were free to selected participants.

SAPH Vision Quest Association Inc. Camps are designed to provide a chance for young people to experience Nature; learn about Environment and Principles of Community; develop greater Self-Esteem, Social, and Leadership Skills; and to simply enjoy 'time out' in a relaxed environment. Fun learning, team-building games & activities, movie, music, stories and sharing in a quiet and natural environment. This particular camp also included an art, music and video workshop. Subsequent to the Camp, a Cultural Event and Graduation ceremony was held, in conjunction with an exhibition of artwork and photographs from the camp. The Bosnian Dance group gave a spirited performance in national dress at the event, and Native American Elder Tony Arnaz conducted a traditional blessing ceremony. All program participants were awarded a Youth Leadership Certificate at the conclusion of the night.

The Southern Gold Coast Community Youth Leadership Program

April ? September 2004:

 Program Information:

The project will assist participants in developing leadership skills and self-esteem while focusing on ecological awareness, communication, group interaction skills, principles of leadership and community awareness.  It is targeted at young people 10 ? 17 years of age, primarily those coming from a disadvantaged background or home situation, in the belief that first-hand knowledge of hardship provides a sound basis for strong future leadership, when coupled with the right skills training.

The program will involve 36 young people selected from the Southern Gold Coast region - SLA?s of Palm Beach, Bilinga, Coolangatta, Miami, Burleigh Heads, and Robina/Varsity Lakes (the latter being the areas formerly known as Kerrydale and Stephens). These 36 young people will participate in one of up to 3 leadership programs (nominally two junior leadership programs, each with 12 participants aged 10 - 12 years; and one senior leadership program with 12 participants aged 12 - 17 years). SAPH Vision Quest Association Inc. will facilitate the programs, and program activites. It is expected that all of the junior participants will be included based on recommendations from State Primary Schools in the designated areas. The senior program participants are expected to be selected based on recommendations from State Secondary Schools and/or other suitable youth-based organisations within the designated areas.

In addition to the 36 young people, up to 12 (total) volunteers from SAPH Vision Quest Association Inc., the advisory committee, and/or participating schools and youth-based organisations will assist in the running of the programs. Members of the advisory committee and other volunteers participating in the program may also be invited to take part in the ongoing mentoring and support of the participating young people, commencing after the completion of the formal program(s).

Each young person participating in the youth leadership program will be expected to enter into an agreement to assist with community and community development activities within their local community and peer group for a period of time (nominally 3 months).

About the Camps and Adventure Days included in our Program:

Our Camps and Adventure Days are designed to provide a chance for young people to experience Nature, develop greater Self-Esteem, Social, and Leadership Skills. To learn about Environment and Principles of Community, and to simply enjoy ?time out? in a relaxed environment. Fun learning, team-building games & activities, movie, music, stories and sharing in a quiet and natural environment.

Conditions for Participation in the Program:

Note: Parents/Schools may be required to provide transport to/from some of the event locations.

 Acknowledgement:

 This program is provided courtesy of funding from the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) under the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy; with contribution by, and utilising the resources of, SAPH Vision Quest Association Inc. and its network of local and international collaborations.

 The Youth Leadership Program has been developed by the resources of SAPH Vision Quest Association Inc., SAPH Natural Healing, and the FOCUS 2001 Group, with a strong view to the new demands made within our rapidly changing World. It is based on over 25 years of high-level international corporate  and motivational training and experience, personal experience of severe family trauma and loss, and an active cooperation over the past 6 years with a number of prominent Gold Coast Family and Youth-oriented Support Groups.
 

Overview:

In mid 2001, a group of 9 - 12 year-old young people with 'high-needs' was identified in the Southern Gold Coast Region. It was considered that all would benefit from an intensive program focussing on issues of 'Self-Esteem' and 'Community Values'.

After failure to obtain funding from the Gold Coast Integrated Response for Youth-At-Risk (GCIRYAR) project, the parties involved agreed to initiate the Program with their own resources. A Regional Community Group provided initial funding, and the SAPH Vision Quest Association provided know-how, as well as in-kind. A local School provided family liaison and necessary supervisory and administrative support, as well as contributing a minor amount of funding.

The program was designed by SAPH Vision Quest Association's Mr. Ben Brauer, after a number of years of direct involvement with the Gold Coast Child and Family Support Services Network (GCCAFSSN), the Gold Coast Integrated Response for Youth-At-Risk (GCIRYAR) project, and an ongoing liaison with a number of international experts and agencies. The program has its basis in Mr. Brauer's original 'Focus for Achievement' motivational program, and his subsequent Natural Healing & Self-Esteem group work. It remains the property of SAPH Vision Quest.

Program Timing:

Program Content:

The main objectives for the Camp participants were to:

Pre-Camp - The group was introduced to basic Community principles of 'Cooperation', and values of 'Honour, Respect, Dignity and Pride'. They actively participated in setting conduct guidelines for the Camp, and were given an introduction into various aspects of nature, conservation and life balance.

At Camp - The Agenda for the Camp included the following:

Post-Camp - 

Catering:

Catering was kindly provided by SAPH Vision Quest Association volunteers. A nutritional menu was established in liaison with a local Nutrition Project.

Conclusion:

Overall, the Camp was considered very successful. It met an unmet need, and provided this group of young people with life skills they would otherwise have little opportunity to access. The participants were well-behaved. Their responses to exercises designed to test 'integration of learning' (e.g. Puzzle Game & Life raft) showed a high level of understanding of the basic principles taught. It is intended to conduct a follow-up event for the participants early in 2002.