World Youth International Newsletter May 2009
 A word from our CEO Rob Kalka...
Welcome to our May Newsletter. We hope you're happy and well.
I'm excited to announce our Overseas Action Programs will soon be leaving to volunteer in Kenya and Peru - more info in this edition of our newsletter! WYI is transforming villages suffering with extreme poverty. We partner directly with communities to build much needed infrastructure and deliver essential services. WYI is innovative in our holistic approach of addressing a range of community needs, one village at a time. Villages actively contribute and participate; greatly improving project sustainability. As our WYI Nepal Director Gopal Sharma puts it, "We are creating Ideal Villages".
WYI runs on a shoe-string budget, and though modestly resourced, we are incredibly effective in saving and improving thousands of lives!
Please show your support by donating $10 to our Overseas Action Programs about to begin in Kenya and Peru. Donations must be received by 24 May. Please click here to donate now!
Click here for a brief summary of what we've been up to recently. |  | |
 19 Volunteers Depart in June!
In a few weeks time, 19 young people will be departing Australia to volunteer with World Youth International in Peru and Kenya. These young volunteers are participating in WYI's Overseas Action Programs led by Team Leaders Alex Acworth and Sarah Ghan. They will be living and working in rural communities and their projects will make an enormous difference to the daily lives of those living in poverty. Here is a brief summary of the exciting projects they will be working on:
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A fair trade income generating project to empower the women of Chinchero in Peru to use their skill and creativity to weave beautiful handcrafts for the tourist market;
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Building up to 13 houses in the villages of Odede, Mutumbu and Hono for families made homeless by the horrendous post-election conflict in Kenya;
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Installing guttering and a rain-water tank to harvest clean drinking water for the Odede Early Childhood Development Centre built by WYI volunteers in January;
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Operating 3 mobile medical clinics in Kenya to treat up to 1,000 people who are suffering the illnesses typical to Equatorial Africa.
Click here to read more about what these volunteers will be up to! We wish them all the best on their journey. | |
Pedal Against Poverty
 During the month of April, we had many teams around Australia 'get on their bikes' to raise money for World Youth International. We thank you all for your valued support! Kim Davis, the Coordinator of Pedal, gives us a glimpse into her own team event...
"For our Pedal Against Poverty bike ride we were blessed with a beautiful day! We had 44 paying participants and 6 helpers - Everyone seemed to have a lovely time and there were lots of conversations about who we could invite next year! I was thrilled to see so many family groups and little kids and seniors participating. It really was a great 'feel good' event. I feel confident that Pedal will be an event that will get bigger each year".
Congratulations to Kim for all her hard work in organising the event, and also for being invited to present a paper at the Institute of Public Works Engineering State Conference in May on the Pedal Against Poverty Project. | | |
New Release Wine Tasting Event - 17th June
 Great news for the South Australian WYI supporters and their friends/colleagues (and those willing to travel)! The New Release Wine Tasting is on again so put the following details in your diaries:
What: WYI & Winestate Magazine's New Release Wine Tasting
When: Wednesday 17th June, 6.30-9.00pm
Where: National Wine Centre - Cnr Hackney & Botanic Roads, Adelaide
Cost: $25 per person - OR get a group of 4 together and receive a 5th TICKET FREE, if you order before the 12th of June.
All proceeds assist WYI's development projects in Kenya and Nepal.
The wine tasting has proven to be a brilliant night in previous years and we want to make this year's even better! So come along and enjoy 300 'new release' wines - a vast array of reds and whites including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. This will be the first tasting of these vintages by Winestate Magazine... then you be the judge! There will also be a Silent Auction and fantastic door prizes... so get a group together and come along!
Please click here to order your tickets online now! Or call the office on (08) 8340 1266 for more details. | | |
WYI introduces India OSP 
WYI are proud to introduce a new partnership with Indian non-government volunteer organization, IDEX (Indian Network for Development Exchange) and a brand new destination for our volunteers - India! IDEX designs and locally supports volunteer and travel programs that are educational, culturally immersive, and beneficial to the social development of local communities in need. In volunteer project areas, WYI participants will play a valuable role to the social development of rural Indian communities in need while simultaneously benefiting from a cultural immersion that is both educational and inspirational.
The new program introduces an exciting range of placement opportunities for volunteers including an 'Animal Care' placement where volunteers can choose to work in a local Wildlife Sanctuary, help to preserve wildlife and assist veterinarians with care and treatment for sick and rescued animals. WYI OSP volunteers will have the option of working in two diversely different parts of India: Goa, a small region on the south west coast of India which is renown for its dense tropical rainforest as well as beautiful coastal environment; and Rajasthan, a large region in north west of India which is sparsely vegetated, flat and is renown for its rich, colourful cultural heritage.
We will be launching this exciting new program on May 31st, so please keep your eye on the programs page of WYI's website or email Kyla for more information! | | |
WYI Coach Eugene McGarrell to run another marathon for WYI!
 On New Years Eve 2007, a couple of my friends and I made a resolution to run a marathon. Fuelled by each other's apparent self confidence and high spirits we committed to running the Canberra Marathon in April 2008. Through support from my running friends and an eye on the goal I managed to get up at 5am in the morning to train. The feeling of exhiliration and exhaustion as I crossed the line was overwhelming!
The time was no world record at just over 4 hours and 11 minutes. But that didn't matter... I've got the bug now. The Gold Coast Marathon will be my 3rd Marathon to raise money for World Youth International and I have set myself a target of raising $2,000 this time. With your help we can smash this target.
There are two ways you can help raise this money for World Youth International. You can sponsor me (every little helps) by clicking here. To find monitor my progress go to http://www.thelifegym.com.au, and to follow me on Twitter go to http://twitter.com/TheLifeGym.
The 42.2 kms will be that much easier with your support!
 Congratulations to Kim Davis!
WYI Director and long time supporter Kim Davis has been offered a position as Training and Development Officer with Ironbark Employment which is a part of Darwin Regional Indigenous Advancement CDEP Incorporated. This is a bold and exciting new adventure for Kim who is busy packing up her house on the south coast of NSW in preparation for the move to Darwin. "I lit my first open fire in the house just the other night and cant quite believe I'll be moving into 30 degree heat!"
Kim has a long career in training and community development and is very much looking forward to the new role. "I know it will be very different to my very comfortable role in local government however this will be such a wonderful opportunity to learn and stretch and make some small contribution. I am very much looking forward to the challenge!"
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WYI joins Trailblazer Challenge
 World Youth International has been selected as one of the recipient charities of The Advertiser Colliers International Trailblazer Challenge. As one of Australia's toughest adventure events, Trailblazer Challenge pushes participants to their limits in 18km, 34km, 50km or 100km events.
Designed as a team endurance event, Trailblazer gives participants a choice of distances to tackle in teams of two, three or four. Experience a walk (or run) through the stunning Adelaide Hills and Mt Lofty Ranges, and take up the opportunity to truly challenge yourself and raise funds for World Youth International. Open to all ages, the Trailblazer Challenge offers a variety of stages to suit all fitness levels and capabilities. If you'd like to participate in this extraordinary event, or volunteer to support participants, circle the 10th & 11th of October 2009 in your diary and contact WYI ASAP.
It would be fantastic to have WYI teams involved. Are you up for a challenge? | | |
Australian Central Community Lottery  WYI are fortunate to be a participant in the Australian Central Community Lottery. The WYI fundraising team had quite a successful week selling tickets at the West Lakes Shopping Centre in SA with 2 of the magnificent cars that could be won on display! The AC motto is Everyone Wins... it's a great chance to win a prize but an even better way to help WYI!
Thank you for your efforts in selling the tickets so far. To reach our target of $10,000, we still need YOUR help to sell tickets! For people in South Australia and the Northern Territory, you can become a ticket seller, and for those living in the rest of the world you can help by buying some tickets and going into the draw to win some fantastic prizes! The lottery runs until 30 June 09, and WYI will receive 100% of the ticket proceeds...what a great deal!
To order books or for more information please contact Clytie Shimmin (WYI Fundraising Committee) on 0402 461 475, or email Clytie. | | |
 Congratulations to Ben and Sanita!
Congratulations to long time WYI supporter, Ben Gough, who married Sanita in Nepal on March 7th.
Ben said "it was a wonderful wedding, a beautiful occasion to celebrate our future and life together with our families and many close friends".
We wish you all the best for your future together!
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 2009/2010 Entertainment Books are still available from World Youth International (SA only)
Please book now to receive over $15,000 in valuable offers, valid through 1 June, 2010. At the same time you'll be helping World Youth International. $13 from each book you buy goes directly to World Youth International. The books are excellent value at only $65.
For more details and your order form,  click here! | | |
Bequest to World Youth International
Did you know you can make a bequest to World Youth International? Click here to learn more about bequests from our new Chairman, Gerald Groom. | | |
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