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Summary
This factsheet summarises the new Australian Volunteers for International Development program, and 400 Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD).
Description
This factsheet summarises the new Australian Volunteers for International Development program, and 400 Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD).
This publication is also available in PDF format:
Australian Volunteers for International Development–AYAD [PDF 416kb]
Passionate young Australians sharing knowledge and skills across Asia, the Pacific and Africa
As part of the Government's Australian Volunteers for International Development Program, Austraining International mobilises 400 Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development each year on short term assignments (3-12 months) to contribute to Australia's overseas aid delivery outcomes.
Managed by Austraining, Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development work with local counterparts and host organisations to contribute to local, sustainable development efforts through skills and knowledge exchange, institutional strengthening and capacity building.
Volunteers are an important part of Australia's aid program. By contributing their time and skills to local development and non-government organisations volunteers undertake an effective form of aid delivery. They contribute to reducing poverty and long-term development, and enable cross-cultural exchange between Australia and other countries, supporting Australia as a global citizen.
Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development empower global communities by creating people to people linkages with developing countries, building capacity within organisations and skills sharing throughout Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
Austraining takes a long term, programmatic approach to the sourcing and development of Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development assignments which are driven by partner organisations needs and Australian and Partner Government development priorities.
Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development are well supported with pre-departure training, and on-going medical and emergency support, flights, accommodation, and living allowances, and assistance with re-entry to Australia.
With an established network of more than 600 partner organisations in Australia and the regions, Austraining has access to world class specialists with experience in contributing to development assistance. Austraining believes in the value of these partnerships as a means of achieving development results and enhancing global citizenship in Australians.
Australian Youth Ambassador for Development Stewart Spencer lived in the Philippines in 2009–10, working as a Communications Officer at the Gelacio I. Yason Foundation – Family Farm School (GIYF-FFS) in Oriental Mindoro. The school was established by the Institute for the Development of Educational & Ecological Alternatives (IDEAS) in 2001 to make a positive difference to rural communities.
'These family visits really allowed me to get into the heart of the communities and experience life from a rural Filipino farming family's perspective,'
Stewart Spencer, Communications Officer, Australian Youth Ambassador for Development,
Gelacio I.Yason Foundation – Family Farm School (GIYF-FFS) in Oriental Mindoro, Philipines.
GIYF-FFS is a private, non profit alternative secondary school working to alleviate poverty through an education and community participation program. Stewart worked with local staff to develop a communication plan and materials for the school's Environmental Education Centre. Together they worked to attract more students to the school and secure vital funding and resources for both the school and the Environmental Education Centre.
Stewart and the staff identified GIYF-FFS's target audiences and implemented a socioeconomic survey for families of the school. Results from the survey were used to inform the school's support network about how GIYF-FFS is helping families within the local community. Stewart contributed to funding proposals and plans to produce a brochure, video, e-newsletter, and a local community bulletin; all of which were to be used to help promote the school and obtain crucial financial support for its work.
At GIYF-FFS, students spend two weeks at school and one week at home, during which teachers visit each student and their families. Whilst on home visits, teachers would assist students in implementing sustainable farming techniques learnt at the school, help develop family enterprise projects to boost family income and, importantly, observe the home life of the student. Stewart says the family visits were among his most memorable experiences during his assignment. During the visits he worked with the teachers and interviewed families to document success stories, producing a short promotional video for the school.