EXCHANGEMAGAZINE

Feb = may 2011Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development ( AYAD) Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE:

Anthony Rologas

2010 was a year of

great achievements for

the AYAD Program with

over 400 volunteers

mobilised into 21

countries, including the

mobilisation of our first

volunteers into the

continent of Africa.

AYAD volunteers

continue to fulfil a range

of assignments with some impressive outcomes which

we will continue to promote through upcoming editions

of Exchange Magazine.

2011 is the 10th Anniversary of the International Year of

the Volunteer. Throughout this year, we will recognise

the contribution of our AYAD volunteers and the positive

impact they continue to make throughout Asia, the

Pacific and Africa.

This edition of Exchange Magazine continues to

celebrate the work of our AYAD Volunteers, including

Ju Lin’s development of Food Ger recommendations

to assist in combating the 30% obesity rate in Mongolia

in extreme seasonal conditions and Danyel’s quest

to promote research into reducing the incidences of

drowning in Bangladesh. Anna’s work in identifying the

positive impact of women’s farming groups are having

through improving financial independence, child nutrition

and the provision of vital support networks is also a

fascinating read.

We hope you enjoy this first edition of Exchange

for 2011 and we look forward to highlighting the

outstanding work of the AYAD volunteers throughout

this special year for the AYAD Program, the Australian

Government’s Volunteer Program for skilled young

Australians.

Anthony RologasAYAD Program Director Austraining International

The Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program aims to strengthen mutual understanding between Australia and the countries of Asia, the Pacific and Africa and make a positive contribution to development.

The Program achieves these aims by placing 400 skilled young Australians (18-30) each year on short-term assignments in developing countries in Asia, the Pacific and Africa. AYAD volunteers work with local counterparts in Host Organisations to achieve sustainable development outcomes through capacity building, skills transfer and institutional strengthening. AYAD assignments cover a diverse range of sectors including Education, Environment, Gender, Governance, Health, Infrastructure, Rural Development and Trades.

The AYAD Program is an Australian Government, AusAID initiative and is fully funded by the Australian Government’s international development agency, AusAID.The AYAD Program is an Australian Government initiative and is fully funded by the Australian

Government’s international development agency, AusAID and managed by Austraining International

CalendarFebruary

20th World Day of Social Justice

March

AYAD Info Sessions - Hobart, Perth, Canberra,

Brisbane, Darwin and Adelaide

2nd AYAD Farewell Reception

8th International Women’s Day

22nd World Water Day

April

AYAD Info Sessions - Melbourne and Sydney

1st -10th National Youth Week

7th AYAD Forum - ‘Youth to Youth’

7th World Health Day

29th Intake 32 AYAD Assignments Online

May

15th International Day of Families

27th Intake 32 AYAD Assignments close

What is AYAD?

CONTENTS February-May 2011

Editors: Sally Orr Lucy Tervet

Design: Miles Wilson

Contributors:

Marissa Toohey

Rosette Silva

Carlo Iacovino

Jo Sampford

Emil Kogan

Ju Lin Lee

Anna Strempel

Stephen Meyer

Nerida Williams

Danyel Walker

Pierre Johannessen

Annalise Ingram

Exchange Magazine welcomes submissions from AYADs and alumni (RAYADs), Host Organisations and Australian Partner Organisations. Please contact the AYAD Communications team for further information.media.ayad@austraining.com.au

Building hope in the Mekong Delta

Power to change their world

Raising the heat on climate change in Kiribati

Running for the President

Celebrating children’s rights

Taste of the Food Ger: at home in Mongolia

AYAD Image Gallery

Women working together for change

Remote living in the Solomons

Gathering Ghanaian stories

Life saving research

RAYAD focus: where are they now?

Australian Partner Organisations

Exchange

1-2

3-4

5-6

7-8

9-10

11-12

13-14

15-17

18-20

21-22

23-24

25-26

27-28

Cover: Stephen Meyer, Youth Outreach Officer, Soloman Islands

Left: Rosette Silva, Youth Development Coordinator, Fiji

[

BUILDING HOPE IN THE MEKONG DELTA

1Our eyes locked across a flooded road at the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam. The man was standing in the doorway of his thatched, weary house on the banks of the river and his eyes told the story of decades of hardship. His pants were rolled up to his knees, just centimetres above the level of floodwater that had consumed his entire house.

I was on the other side of the road in the protection of a taxi. I was

overwhelmed by the situation unfolding in front of me. Suddenly,

the man smiled at me, happy to see a new face and I realised I have

an opportunity to make a small difference.

Prior to my Australian Youth Ambassador for Development

assignment in Vietnam, I wasn’t aware of how seriously the

natural environment threatens the lives and livelihoods of people

living in the Mekong Delta, which accounts for twenty per cent

of the population. Before my assignment, I had never been to a

developing country. Now, having stared into the eyes of an old man

across a flooded road, I understand storms, floods and associated

issues are affecting thousands of people every day damaging mass

production of crops and fish, threatening the quality of surface and

groundwater and exposing people to serious illnesses, including

malaria and pneumonia.

In my position as Communications and Media Support Officer at

Habitat for Humanity Vietnam (HFH Vietnam), I have also seen

evidence of how simple, decent and affordable housing can

improve the lives of people in the Mekong River Delta and

around the country. Decent houses provide stability, improve

health, safety and security, and enhance education and livelihoods

for individuals and families.

HFH Vietnam has been operating for nearly ten years and has

served around 34,000 people country-wide. The organisation

mobilises resources (construction materials, labour and financing)

to build, renovate or repair houses with economically marginalised

households who are willing to partner by working on their house

through sweat equity (contributing time and effort) and paying

towards its cost, typically through a microfinance mechanism.

Housing loan repayments go into a revolving fund from which

additional beneficiary households can access financing to build or

improve their home.

For thousands of Vietnamese families living along the shores of the

Mekong, housing improvements offer relief from regular threats of

floods and storms, particularly during the rainy season from May

to September each year. According to Assessment of Disaster

Severity in Different Geographic Areas in the Coastal Economic

Zone of Vietnam (University of Ryukyrus Japan), the Mekong River

Delta has the highest level of severity for flooding in Vietnam, and

a severe level for storms, saline intrusion, inundation, landslide

and storm surge. The river water rises with the tide every day and

people are forced to continue their daily tasks with soggy feet

and damaged equipment. Most alarming is that rising tides are

projected to increase, with unmitigated sea level rise estimated to

inundate thirty-one percent of the Mekong Delta by 2100. I recently

.............................................................................................................

One of the houses volunteers built alongside a Habitat for Humanity Vietnam partner family

The Poverty In The Mekong Delta

took a field trip to My Tho City in the Mekong Delta to

collect the stories of volunteers and families building HFH

Vietnam houses and to see the real benefits of decent

housing. I joined a group of twenty American volunteers

who were at the end of a two week program in which

they had almost completed the building of two houses,

and it was immediately obvious that the experience was

changing the lives of both volunteers and beneficiaries.

The volunteers had left their jobs to fly across the world,

pick up bricks and paint brushes, and assist needy families

to reduce the costs of construction services and materials

by building alongside them. During breaks, they enjoyed

local food, including pho and mango steins, and played

with the children. The families, particularly children, were

not only gaining a strong and secure house but they were

also engaging in cultural exchange.

The community was also excited to see foreigners and

people would often out of curiosity drop into the building

site. Prior to partnering with HFH Vietnam, the two families

lived in very small houses with thatched walls and roofs

made of palm leaves. Gaps in the roof meant they were

exposed to harsh conditions during rain and often had

to spend money to repair their homes after the raining

season. The houses left people vulnerable to serious

illnesses including malaria, tuberculosis and pneumonia.

The families had no sanitary toilets, limited access to clean

drinking water and paid very expensive fees for electricity.

At the end of the program, the volunteers and beneficiaries

shared an emotional ceremony in which the houses were

handed over to the families for completion. The families

gained strong houses, hygiene facilities, piped water and

affordable electricity, setting them up for improved and

sustainable living. The families expressed eternal gratitude

for the assistance provided to them and the volunteers

left feeling passionate about issues associated with

inept housing. A staggering ten million people in Vietnam

continue to live in poverty and twenty-five per cent of the

population are without access to improved sanitation

services.

With just a few months remaining of my AYAD assignment,

I will soon leave Vietnam with a increased passion for

raising awareness of housing issues. In the meantime,

I am using my time to promote the achievements of

HFH Vietnam within the country and implementing

communication initiatives to attract funds that will enable

the organisation to expand their programs. I spend my

days in Ho Chi Minh City, compiling promotional materials

and making every effort to generate smiles, just like those

of the elderly gentleman at the Mekong River Delta.

............................................................

BUILDING HOPE IN THE MEKONG DELTA

AYAD | Marissa TooheyCountry | Vietnam

Assignment | Communications and Media Support OfficerHost Organisation | Habitat for Humanity Vietnam

www.habitat.org/intlAustralian Partner Organisation | Habitat for Humanity Australia

www.habitat.org.au

2

Marissa and children who are beneficiaries of a Habitat house at My Tho City in the Mekong Delta

“In my position as Communications and Media Support Officer at Habitat

for Humanity Vietnam I have seen evidence of how simple,

decent and affordable housing can improve the lives

of people in the Mekong River Delta and around the

country”

....................................................................

Founded in 1904, the Dilkusha

Children’s Home is an orphanage

for children run by the Methodist

Church of Fiji and Rotuma. Perched

magnificently atop the hill on Princes

Road in Nausori, on the island of Viti

Levu in the Fiji Islands, children come to

the Home as a result of abuse, poverty,

and abandonment.

Once within their care, the Home seeks

to provide the child an environment of

love and security in which to grow up

happily and without fear, in preparation

to live an independent and productive

adult life.

During my assignment as Youth

Development Co-ordinator, I have

learnt about my own resourcefulness

and resilience and had the opportunity

to make a positive contribution to, and

perhaps even influence, the lives of

thirty young girls.

Once my assignment was underway I

quickly learnt that the contribution made

to these children’s lives is not limited to

those of us who meet them directly; the

support network extends throughout

this big-hearted community. From

foreign embassies, private enterprises,

and the general public, the act of helping

these children encounters no racial or

religious barriers. The uniting hope is

that the girls have every opportunity in

life, and are able to dream big.

What has left the deepest impression

on me? Perhaps it’s the smiles on all

the children I have had the pleasure to

know through my work. But maybe it’s

that I now truly believe that each and

every one of us has the power to change

the world around us, whether in the

smallest gesture or on a monumentally

life changing program like AYAD.

4

Photos: Rosette with children of the Dilkusha Children’s Home in Fiji.

AYAD | Rosette SilvaCountry | Fiji

Assignment | Youth Development CoordinatorHost Organisation | Dilkusha Children’s Home

www.realsolutions-sr.de/pages/nausori

Powerto Change their world

Rosette was born in Fiji and migrated to Australia at an early age. Returning to her ‘motherland’ was an opportunity to not only reconnect with her birthplace but also, and more importantly, to give a little of herself back to a community where some of her fondest memories remain.

Raising the heat on climate change in Kiribati5

The Tarawa Climate Change Conference (TCCC) of November 2010 gave birth to the Ambo Declaration, a signal of grave concern that calls to the world for immediate action on climate change.

The declaration was adopted by Australia, Brazil, China, Cuba,

Fiji, Japan, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, New Zealand,

Solomon Islands and Tonga. Carlo Iacovino was in Kiribati at the

time, as an AYAD in the role of Communications Coordinator for

the Kiribati Adaptation Program, an initiative to reduce Kiribati’s

vulnerability to climate change, climate variability and sea level

rise though adaptation.

‘It was a special feeling to see representatives of these countries

come to such an isolated atoll nation, especially Brazil and

China. The major developing countries play an important part in

international climate negotiations and their signing of the Ambo

Declaration is something that Kiribati can be proud of’, says

Carlo.

Carlo worked with the Media unit of the Office of the President

and through their efforts, global coverage of the conference was

generated via agencies such as the Australian Associated Press,

National Public Radio from USA and the Guardian newspaper

in the UK.

Carlo shared, ‘The first day I arrived in Tarawa it was clear; Kiribati

is one of the least developed countries and also one of the most

vulnerable to climate change. This sentiment was echoed by the

conference delegates, many of whom said it is only when you

are on the ground that you see the challenges faced.’

In the lead up to the conference, Carlo was privileged to

collaborate with the Nei Tabera Ni Kai Video Unit, based in

South Tarawa. ‘I see Nei Tabera Ni Kai as the Kiribati equivalent

of the influential Wan Smolbag Theatre in Vanuatu. Their films

have strongly advocated for increased awareness, education

and development in Kiribati not only locally, but also to an

international audience,’ says Carlo.

The Kiribati Adaptation Program funded the release and

distribution of a DVD version of the Kiribati side event held at

A Kiribati Sunset The Kiribati national flag The Kiribati Islands President Tong of Kiribati and representitives of Maldives, Marshall Islands and Fiji

6

Raising the heat on climate change in Kiribati

Welcome by Kiribati dancers Inside the Conference Kiribati President and delegates The crowds outside the conference

AYAD | Carlo IacovinoCountry | Kiribati

Assignment | Communications CoordinatorHost Organisation | Kiribati Adaptation Project - Phase II

www.climate.gov.kiAustralian Partner Organisation | World Bank Group

www.worldbank.org/pi

COP15 in Copenhagen. 280 copies were distributed across

27 Kiribati islands to all associations of elders (botaki n

Unimwaane), churches, councils, government agencies,

members of parliament and schools. John Anderson, Director

at Nei Tabera Ni Kai was well aware of the importance of their

latest film.

‘The creation of this DVD resource has been one of the most

important projects in our 13 year history.The impact is likely to

be considerable, as the general population is educated with

the latest climate change information. We would like to thank

the Kiribati Adaptation Program, its staff, donors, consultants

and volunteers, for overseeing the birth of this project.’

The AYAD assignment support allowance paid for radio

promotion of both the conference and the film across

the country and also for a DVD copy for every conference

delegate.

On the first morning of the conference, Carlo could see what

all the efforts of Government, local NGOs and the media

campaign had resulted in.

‘Arriving at the conference and seeing so many i-Kiribati

people lining the road was the moment that meant the most

for me. I could immediately see the benefit to the community;

they were aware, active and part of the process. To me,

the conference no longer seemed like only a government

initiative, it had now become something for all the people of

Kiribati.’

Adaptation Project - Phase II is supported by the World Bank,

the Global Environmental Faculty, AusAID and NZAID

“The creation of this DVD resource has been one of our most important projects in our 13 year history”.

7

Within a few short months of that evening Jo travelled to Dili

to embark on a nine month AYAD assignment.

“Our projects varied from working in the government

departments to the sprawling UN mission to small NGOs

in different sectors, which include human trafficking,

environment, health, employment services, women, and the

arts,” Jo said.

Her assignment was based in the Presidential Office, working

on the President’s international relations and peace-building

agendas.

“I would never know what new tasks and challenges lay

around the corner and my work was incredibly broad, from

drafting letters to international leaders and press releases, to

facilitating relationships between stakeholders,” she said.

“For example, I was asked to write to the then PM Kevin Rudd

regarding the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and

condolence letters to the head of countries that encountered

natural disasters, such as the Haitian earthquake.

“I also focused on two headline tourism and sporting events:

the Tour de Timor mountain bike race and the inaugural Dili

City of Peace International Marathon.

“The Marathon itself was an enormous and mind-bogglingly

complex operation; a race that literally stopped the city of Dili

for six hours; with over 1,300 runners, 400 volunteers, and

122 road intersection closures, requiring extensive volunteer

recruitment and training and detailed coordination with police,

ambulance and security services.”

During these busy days, Jo gained insight into the different

spheres of Timorese government, diplomatic corps, the

development sector, and the community at grassroots level.

However, she says she still has much to learn.

“Recognising one’s inexperience is healthy,” Jo said. “I think

the most important thing is to blend this humility with energy

and really apply yourself to listening and learning as much as

possible from academics, practitioners, and from the people

and places you hope to contribute to.”

For students who are looking for more experience while

studying, Jo has some advice.

“Get out there and get engaged. There are lots of local

activities in Brisbane and the rest of Australia which provide

ample opportunities to develop your skills. It’s good to go

Running For The President

Jo Sampford never guessed that

attending a small Tuesday Night

forum in Brisbane would lead

to working in the office of East

Timorese President and Nobel

Peace Laureate Dr Jose Ramos-

Horta. Jo with President Dr.Jose Ramos-Harta

8

AYAD | Jo SampfordCountry | East Timor

Assignment | International Relations OfficerHost Organisation | Office of the President of the

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste | www.presidencia.tlAustralian Partner Organisation | Friends and Partners of

East Timor | www.fpet.org.au

Getting the crowds excited Children wait in anticipation for the start of the race

400 runners started the race - including the President of East Timor

along to public lectures and forums to get the news and

information. Volunteer wherever you can.” Jo said her

AYAD assignment has helped her decide what to do

after graduating.

“There is a common saying in Timor that ‘those who

taste the coconut juice are bound to return’. After my

graduation, I plan to return to East Timor to initiate a

Diplomacy Skills Training Program with students of the

National University of East Timor in partnership with the

UN Mission” she said. “I want to give back what I have

gained.”

Running For The President

9My AYAD assignment, as the Partnerships and Fundraising

Officer with Non Government Organisation, Bahay

Tuluyan, gave me the opportunity to manage aspects of

the Children’s Rights Festival in Manila. Bahay Tuluyan

is committed to promoting, respecting and protecting

children’s rights and works mainly with street children,

providing them with social services including food,

medicine and shelter. ‘Bahay’ means house and ‘tuluyan’

is a place that provides temporary shelter, like an inn. The

word ‘tuluyan’ originated from the root word ‘tuloy’ which

means welcome.

The Children’s Rights Festival aims to celebrate the equal

role of all children and to improve children’s knowledge

about their rights, as well as to draw public attention to

the pressing issues facing marginalised children in the

Philippines.

Working in a new environment where I didn’t speak

the language or know a lot about Filipino culture was

challenging - I struggled to visualise how Bahay Tuluyan

had the resources to manage such a large event; quickly

I realised the innovation and the passion of the staff

overcame whatever resources they lacked!

The festival ran on the 21st anniversary of the United

Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

which coincides with Universal Children’s Day. Around

2,500 children attended the festival, with 60 NGO partners,

600 volunteers and a number of corporate and media

sponsors all contributing to the event’s success.

The festival launch was exhilarating. Children took to the

streets of Manila from five different points in the city all

leading to the festival site and shouted out their rights in

advocacy walks. Throughout the day children explored the

festival booths or watched performances at the concert

stage where various NGOs held performances relating to

children’s rights. The booths at the festival were divided

into five different worlds, formed around the rights from

the UNCRC: civil and political rights; family and alternative

care; education, culture and leisure; health, nutrition and

welfare; and special protection. One NGO ran a puppet

show for children about their right to belong to a family.

Another booth focused on a child’s right to an identity,

including making identity cards for children, many of whom

do not have a birth certificate or any form of identification.

We were successful in creating awareness about the

festival through features in several newspapers and

television programs and securing a range of corporate and

media sponsors. While the event was successful, most

fulfilling was hearing the laughter of the children on the

festival day as they enjoyed the games, storytelling, face

painting, drawing competitions and even cooking lessons

offered at the festival. Bahay Tuluyan emphasises teaching

children about their rights through games and activities

rather than formal education methods. The highlight of the

festival was the presentation of a book written by children

from all over the Philippines about their rights. It was

presented to Corazon Soliman, the Department of Social

Welfare and Development Secretary, and Vanessa Tobin,

UNICEF country representative. My favourite entry was

a message and drawing from one boy saying, “I want to

become a scientist someday and I will invent a medicine

for the poor. The medicine will be for free. I wish President

Celebrating Children’’s Rights

NoyNoy would help the children that can’t afford to

study”.

After receiving the book, Secretary Solimon gave

a response from President Aquino, reaffirming his

commitment to children’s rights in the Philippines. The

book summed up the festival for me; an advocacy tool

created by children campaigning for their rights in a

personal and creative way.

At the end of the festival, children were given show

bags containing essential items such as soap, lice

shampoo and toothbrushes. I expected the children to

be exhausted by the end of the day, but several asked if

we could have a festival the next day as well! Despite the

initial challenges of working for the festival, being part of

managing an event that helped shape a brighter future

for Filipino children made me appreciate further the

reasoning for undertaking an AYAD position. I’m looking

forward to more challenges and more successes in the

year ahead.

The entrance to the Health Nutrition and Welfare World at the festival A performance on the stage at the festival by a group of children about their rights Emil and colleagues

10Celebrating Children’’s Rights

An entry from the book Munting Tinig, Karapatan Nais Marining

AYAD | Emil KoganCountry | Philippines

Assignment | Partnerships and Fundraising OfficerHost Organisation | Bahay Tuluyan

Philippines Australia | www.bahaytuluyan.org/auAustralian Partner Organisation | Bahay Tuluyan

11

ГЭР /geə(r)/ ger noun

1. The Mongolian word for home, house,

household.

2. A traditional Mongolian portable dwelling

that is used by nomadic herder families. It has

a circular wooden lattice frame held together by

rope, covered in felt, with central roof poles that

support the crown.

3. The shape used to depict the dietary

guidelines of Mongolia, called the ‘Food Ger’

recommendations.

I have seen nearly eight months fly by whilst working

for the Department of Health – Implementing

Agency for the Government of Mongolia (DOH),

in the Health Promotion Division. Our main role

in the DOH is to implement national health policy

relating to health promotion, as directed by the

Ministry of Health. As a Nutrition Officer, I work

with my counterpart, Baigalmaa Bavuujav, and

colleagues in planning and implementing health

promotion and disease prevention activities,

particularly focusing on nutrition and non-

communicable disease prevention.

My counterpart and I have used the The Food Ger

recommendations to develop various resources

and activities for nutrition education activities.

We used this when we went to Khuvsgul aimag

(‘aimag’ means province) with other health

promotion colleagues and guests from the

Korean Association of Health Promotion (KAHP),

to help conduct a health promotion workshop for

all health professionals in the aimag in September.

Khuvsgul aimag is about 600km North West of

Ulaanbaatar, about a 13 hour drive along one of

the least pot-holed roads of Mongolia. The good

thing about road trips in Mongolia is being able to

take in the infinite rolling Mongolian steppes and

the varied landscapes along the way. Yet again,

the scenery did not fail to amaze me, having

turned from its luscious green to a full array of

autumn colours.

We reached the welcoming soum (village) centre of

Ikh Uul, where we assisted with health screenings

of primary school children run by the KAHP. This

was the first time some of these children had ever

had such comprehensive medical attention, and

perhaps met foreigners. I took the opportunity to

talk to the school dormitory cooks and soum GP

about their perspectives of nutrition in Mongolia.

With over 30% of the Mongolian population

overweight or obese, nutrition and other risk

factors such as physical activity, smoking and

alcohol consumption are emerging as the priority

for health promotion activities. This is further

reinforced by the fact that cardiovascular disease,

cancers and accidents/injury (often alcohol and

traffic related) are, in that order, the leading

Ju Lin and her colleagues in mid flight in Ikh Uul. From left to right: Ch.Batnasan, B.Baigalmaa, L.Oyunaa and Ju Lin

A taste of the food ger: at home in Mongolia

Children of Ikh Uul School line up for their health screening

12

causes of death. These talks and experiences

in the countryside depicted clearly what I had

come to understand about the diet of Mongolia.

The staples of typically mutton and ALL animal

parts, flavoured with salt, and dairy has evolved

from their traditional nomadic lifestyle as herders,

with the regular moving of locations and the

extreme seasonal variation – +30°C in summer

to -40°C in winter – limiting the opportunity

to grow vegetables orcrops. Today, root and

some greenhouse-grown vegetables and

wheat are largely grown in the short summer,

and strengthened importing opportunities have

increased the availability of wheat and rice,

though both are mainly white and refined. This

is so deep seated in Mongolian history that even

the language reflects this; the Mongolian word for

vegetables, ‘nogoo’, is the same word for ‘green’

and ‘grass’. Many in Mongolia say, “Grass is for

the animals, men eat meat”.

I was surprised how often I have found myself

often drawing on my experiences in the Northern

Territory and the cattle country of Charters

Towers and Townsville in Queensland with

parallel influences (besides the weather) and

attitudes to health and food choices. The fun

part is trying to recommend culturally appropriate

foods in line with the Food Ger recommendations!

But, in Tarialan aimag centre where our journey

continued for the health workshop, our Food

Ger education sessions were a hit with the

enthusiastic workshop participants.

Even out of the city, in these countryside

towns it is evident that the traditional lifestyle is

progressively changing with growing urbanisation

and changing economy. Access to larger

towns is made easier with the modern day

horse – the 250CC motorbike – leaving more

time to enjoy solar panel charged, battery run

television via the satellite dish set up outside

the ger. Such incongruous images are seen

constantly throughout Mongolia, and it cannot be

assumed that one who lives in a ger is not living

a comfortable life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip for the opportunity

to better understand the local health situation

and practice my appalling Mongolian language

skills with my colleagues. I hope they learnt more

about me, my role, and that Australians too can

look Mongolian, (with my Malaysian-Chinese

background I am often mistaken for a local).

I hope that through our nutrition activities, and

those developed during the rest of my time here,

the taste of the Food Ger continues to be spread.

Perhaps more men may even start eating more

‘nogoo’ of the vegetable, rather than green grass

variety!

AYAD | Ju Lin LeeCountry| Mongolia

Assignment | Nutrition OfficerHost Organisation | Ministry of Health - National

Centre for Health Developmenthttp://english.mon.mn

Ju Lin and Baigalma(left) with the Food Ger nutrition activity for the Tarialan health professionals workshop

A taste of the food ger: at home in Mongolia A modern day ger with solar panel, satelliite dish and motorbike

2AYADphotogallery

1

3

4

1. Hmong Hilltribe new year celebrations, at Ban Mae Sa Mai, northern Thailand. Photographer: Robyn Sakkara

2. Fabien De Vel Palumbo with other volunteers undertaking awareness activities in the town square of a city in Yunnan

3. David Bauer and Jonathan Chan spend time with their counterparts in Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam

4. Anna Lin with two craftswomen dressed in traditional silk deels, at a conference in Mongolia

5. Rebecca Visintin working with the children at her Host Organisation, Aoga Fiamalamalama in Samoa

6. Sunset in Fiji. Photographer: Jane Henty

7. Penny Chiang and a selection of the final products created at her Host Organisation Association of the Blind in Cambodia

8. AYADs Carmen and Magda take some timeout at Butre Beach in Ghana, watching as the local fisherman haul in their nets – a daily event that involves the whole community event. Photographer: Prue Loney

9. Rachel Tosolini, is greeted by the inquisitive local children whilst on a field trip in Labuan Bajo in Flores, Indonesia

13

75 66

8 9

14

A few years ago I read about a taste-tester

for a prestigious chocolate company, who

was paid very well to eat chocolate every

day. At the time I thought, that woman has

the best job in the world! I’m not sure where

she is these days, but I’m happy to say I

think I’ve stolen her title…

Since August 2010 I’ve been based in Banda

Aceh, Indonesia with Balai Pengkajian Teknologi

Pertanian - Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam

(BPTP-NAD), a government agency that

works to improve agricultural productivity.

BPTP NAD is a partner in an Australian

Centre for International Agricultural Research

(ACIAR) project working to restore agricultural

livelihoods in Aceh. The other partners are

the Indonesian rice, soils and legume/tuber

Research Institutes, and Industry & Investment

NSW who organised my placement.

The ultimate aim of my assignment is to support

and expand the Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT)

component of the ACIAR project. Through this

initiative, women’s farming groups have been

established in five of Aceh’s 15 regions, each

consisting of between 10-25 women working

together to grow vegetables on shared

and in home gardens.

My main task so far has been to conduct

a needs assessment, which has meant

travelling around Aceh with my counterpart,

Ibu Nazariah, and my supervisor, Pak Ferizal,

interviewing women farmers and meeting with

people from organisations doing similar work.

I’ve been lucky to see lots of the beautiful

Acehnese countryside, and have had great

fun hanging out with the women’s groups –

laughing, drinking tea and explaining why I’m

not yet married/don’t have kids.

But there is a serious side to the work too,

and the needs assessment has given us

some useful data. For a start, it allowed us to

explore the numerous positive outcomes of the

KWT project. Some of these are financial; the

income from selling produce is shared among

members or used to provide small loans, with

at least a third set aside for investment in new

crops. This extra income helps the women

achieve financial independence, meaning

they don’t have to ask their husbands to pay

for things like telephone credit and children’s

schoolbooks. Because the women also get

to take home some of the produce, they

save money from household budgets while

improving their own and their families’ dietary

intake. Child malnutrition rates are high in Aceh

compared with other parts of Indonesia, so the

addition of veggies to the daily diet can make

a big difference.

Perhaps the most important outcomes to date

are the social benefits. Prior to joining the KWT

project, many women had limited opportunities

for socialising – in between working in the rice

fields, looking after children and keeping the

household running, there wasn’t much time

left to spend with other women. Through

the KWT project, participants get to share

friendship and support whilst working together

productively, and the women I’ve met say this

is what they like most. The social benefits are

not limited to participants – one farmer told

us her whole village has been happier since

the women’s groups were established, and it

is easy to see how women’s empowerment

can have a flow-on effect. While there have

been many valuable outcomes to date, there

are also ways the KWT project could better

service Acehnese communities, and the needs

assessment has helped us to identify these

opportunities. For example, we now know

the women want to learn about post-harvest

processing and organic cultivation, and that

there is a need for leadership training. For me,

the next few months will be spent turning this

information into practical capacity building

activities, including a ‘Women in Agriculture’

Forum that will bring the groups together next

year.

One of the current challenges for BPTP is to

find ways to share its successes with other

organisations, and build partnerships that

can help to support and develop the project

further. The Women in Agriculture Forum and

the development of a network will be great

opportunities to start this process, and I am

looking forward to working with my counterpart

on these initiatives through the remainder of

my assignment. I may not get to eat much

chocolate, but I feel extremely lucky to be

working on such a positive project.

Women working together for change oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

15

AYAD | Anna StrempelCountry | Indonesia

Assignment | Network Support OfficerHost Organisation | BPTP NAD

http://nad.litbang.deptan.go.id/ind/Australian Partner Organisation | Industry and Investment NSW

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/

Women working together for change....

1. Members of the Semangat Baru (New Spirit) group in the district of

Bireuen during an interview. The group leader is in the centre (wearing

glasses); Anna’s counterpart, Ibu Nazariah, is to the left.

2. Anna with members of a couple of groups in the district of Aceh Barat

(West Aceh); her counterpart, Ibu Nazariah, is standing two people to my

Anna’s left (white head scarf and yellow shirt).

3. Members of a couple of groups in the district of Aceh Barat during an

interview, and their children.

4. During an interview with group members and local extension officers in the

district of Aceh Barat: Anna in the middle with orange shirt, her counterpart

Ibu Nazariah is to her left in the white head scarf, her supervisor is the man

sitting to her right and Rebecca Lines-Kelly from her APO - Industry and

Investment NSW, is sitting behind him.

5. Members of a farming group in Aceh Barat, mid interview.

6. Members of groups in the district of Aceh Barat with children in the local

eggplant fields.

Women working together for change 16

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

1 2 3

4 5

6

17

Women Working

Together for Change

Remote Living in

The Solomons

18

Remote living in the Solomons

What brought me to my volunteer assignment in the

Solomon Islands was a need to challenge myself – having

lived and worked in Canberra my whole life, and not having

done much overseas travel before, I needed to get out

there and see what I was capable of. I wanted to be more

than a tourist and give something of myself. As it turns out,

volunteering with AYAD and Save the Children Australia

was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

I had been working as a psychologist prior to applying with the

AYAD program. My experience was primarily in working with

trauma and abuse, particularly with children, young people and

families. I also had a background of volunteering in various roles,

which is how I started out in my field. I became interested in taking

my skills and knowledge to an international development context

and discovered an AYAD assignment based in Taro, Choiseul

province, a remote location in the Solomon Islands. The position

was Youth Outreach Officer with Save the Children Australia’s

Youth Outreach Partnerships Project (YOPP), focusing on youth

education and engagement. Taro is the capital of Choiseul, a

province with a population of approximately 30,000 people. Taro

itself has about 500 residents and is a station situated on a tiny

island just out from the mainland. There is no power or water

AYAD | Stephen MeyerCountry | Solomon Islands

Assignment | Youth Outreach Project OfficerHost Organisation | Save the Children

Australia (SCA) Solomon IslandsAustralian Partner Organisation | Save the

Children Australiawww.savethechildren.org.au

20Stephen and Nelson outside the Save the Children office in Honiara. Stephen with children from Supizae at his farewell.

supply, with people relying on generators for their homes and

offices. Phone and internet connections are still very basic and

telecommunications blackouts are common. While there were

various difficulties associated with isolation and still-developing

infrastructure, they became a unique part of my incredible

experiences in Choiseul.

My assignment was based around working together with a local

counterpart, who in this case was the YOPP Team Leader for

the province, Nelson Katovai. Nelson and I worked very closely

together, sharing knowledge, laughs, challenges and successes.

Nelson taught me an immense amount about the culture of his

people, as well as how to work with young people in the Solomons.

My role as a volunteer was diverse and flexible, which gave Nelson

and I the opportunity to meaningfully grow the program and the

capacity of the staff team. We travelled to many different villages

and communities across Choiseul, where I was captivated by the

stories of chiefs, women, men and children about their way of life.

One part of my work involved the development training and

resources in a range of areas, including time management, public

speaking, life skills for young people, volunteer kindergarten

teacher training, basic counselling skills and preventing domestic

and family abuse. I was fortunate to be able to deliver this training

to Save the Children staff and community members across various

provinces. This was a great way to contribute my experience and

I had a fantastic time developing my training skills. I loved seeing

the huge change and insights that information brings to people.

Nelson and I also assisted the provincial Women’s Development

Division to establish the ‘Choiseul Free from Family and Domestic

Abuse Committee’. This was the province’s first forum uniting

key stakeholders to address the widespread issue of family and

domestic abuse, and is an achievement of which Nelson and I are

extremely proud.

Throughout my assignment I was surrounded by stunning scenery

– pristine blue waters, vast coral reefs, mountains dripping with

dense forest. One of my favourite ways to relax on the weekend

was paddling a dug-out canoe around Choiseul Bay, losing myself

in the remoteness and untouched beauty of the Pacific.

I lived on Supizae during my time in Choiseul, a small island that

neighbours with Taro. Crossing the channel between the two

islands was an experience in itself – each day I was paddled

across in a small boat, watching great schools of fish pass by

with the currents. The Supizae community was not quite sure how

to respond to me when I first arrived, as there hadn’t been many

Western men living in the middle of the community before. People

were fascinated to see how I lived – what I cooked, what I planted

in my garden, even how I hand-washed my clothes. Solomon

Islanders are generous; if you are truly interested in immersing in

their world, you will be embraced and loved. Supizae became a

home, and its people my family. I am looking forward to seeing all

of my aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters when I next return there.

I have emerged from my time in the Solomon Islands feeling

there is no limit to my potential. I believe that despite the scale

of the development issues in Choiseul, I made a real and lasting

difference to its people and to YOPP. Being in a remote provincial

location provides a chance to make genuine, tangible change at

the root level of development, and I hope that other volunteers

will have the opportunity to contribute to the lives of people in

the provinces. The relationships that you develop out there are

nothing short of life-altering.

21I have been fortunate enough to experience life in rural Africa

for the past six months. My new home is Tamale, the capital

of the Northern Region and gateway to the other northern

(and highly impoverished) regions, and located 12 hours

north of Ghana’s capital, Accra. UNICEF have a field office

here, which is where I have been working as the Assistant

Communication Officer. Most of my work – and what I

have realised I enjoy the most – is writing human interest

feature stories on the work of UNICEF and its partners in

the Northern sector of Ghana. It has involved researching

how UNICEF operates as an agency and development

organisation, to creating feature stories with a license for

creative freedom.

I have had an opportunity to witness the development work

first hand, often with a Program Officer who is visiting a site

for monitoring purposes. We drive hours out of Tamale, to

the most remote villages in Ghana. I shadow the Program

Officer, vigorously taking notes and photographs and willing

my fingers to keep up with the pace of the story.

One such recent visit was to document various village based

health volunteers, known as Community Based Agents

(CBAs). They are unpaid, local volunteers, who are trained by

UNICEF on basic health problems affecting children; namely

malaria and diarrhoea.

First we collect our guide for the day, in this case Veronica

Akurugu from the Ghana Health Service. The people from the

Ghana Health Service, who become guides for me each time

I research a story, are invaluable to my role. They have local

knowledge about the village we are visiting and personally

know the people I will be interviewing. There is no way I could

carry out my assignment without them.

Veronica directs the driver to the village of Gbulahigu, 30

minutes drive from Tamale. We arrive and speak to CBAs,

Madame Zeneba, Fatmata Salifu and Mohammed Saibu. We

shelter from the hot sun under a large tree and are instantly

surrounded by inquisitive children and adults. I interview the

CBAs, through Veronica as a translator, asking them about

their motivation to help their communities and how the CBA

program has impacted the health of children generally.

They tell me, “We are so happy for this program. Most people

think Community Based Agents are paid, but we are not. We

do it for the good of our communities.”

We move on to Tuunayili, and step inside the compound

house of one of the local volunteers, Madame Munira. We

sit inside the circular enclosure made of mud brick. It’s a

hot day, but sheltered under a thatched roof awning it is

much cooler. I notice a young girl peering over the low wall

at us, surrounded by long sticks for pounding the traditional

Ghanaian meal of fufu, and clothes drying in minutes atop

thatched roofs under the hot African sun. Munira tells us that

three years ago, at the inception of the CBA program through

UNICEF, she applied for one of the volunteer positions. She

Gathering Ghanaian Stories............................................

.....................................................Nerida with villagers near the UNICEF headquarters

.........................................................................

was successful, and has been her communities main life-line

for children’s health ever since.

On average, Munira will see about 3 – 5 children a week. Inside

her UNICEF-donated medical kit lays medication for malaria

and ORS sachets for acute diarrhoea. There is also a timer

and a string of beads, a simple but effective way of testing the

probability a child has an upper respiratory tract infection, by

the rate of their breathing. Any more than 50 breaths per minute

and the child is quickly referred to the nearby health clinic at

the sub-district area of Nyankpala. The risk of pneumonia is

high and the CBAs training on detecting it is invaluable. Some

other ailments can be treated right out of the CBA’s first aid kit.

Munira tells us she often dispenses malaria tablets to children

displaying a high fever. This is the most common ailment

amongst children in her village. UNICEF began the Integrated

Management of Child Illness (IMCI) project in the early 1990s

to combat the high child mortality rates. In 2007, in order to

reach as many children as possible, UNICEF started mobilising

CBAs. On average, there are two volunteers per village.

CBAs attend a five-day workshop, which takes them through

topics aimed at improving household and community

practises related to child health, nutrition and development,

immunisation and Vitamin A supplementation. Community

health workers liaise between health centres and villagers to

ensure that families know that health care is available. They

are essential for an integrated health care system. According

to the results from the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

(GDHS), Ghana’s child mortality and morbidity has been

decreasing since 2003. If Ghana continues along this trend,

they will increase their chances of reaching the Millennium

Development Goal on reducing child mortality by 2015.

A man cycles by as we are speaking to some more CBAs in

the village of Tuunayili. He dismounts his bike and wants to

talk to us, to tell us his personal story of how his own child was

suffering from a fever. He promptly took the child to a CBA,

who administered malarial treatment, and the child “recovered

promptly”. Not long after, this man, Ibrahim Neindoo, was at a

local naming ceremony - the celebration of a new baby when

it reaches the age of one month - in his village. “I saw a child

with a fever there,” he tells us, “so I told the parents to take it

to a CBA, and now the child is better.”

These invaluable community volunteers sometimes even

compensate the cost of medicines for locals who cannot cover

the cost for their sick child. “The knowledge we are given is

great enough,” according to Munira.

As we left the compound at the end of the interview, Munira

thanked us for our visit. “We are so happy for your visit as

it shows the community, yes, CBAs are doing something

important.”

Gathering Ghanaian Stories............................................

.....................................................

AYAD | Nerida WilliamsCountry | Ghana

Assignment | Assistant Communications OfficerHost Organisation | UNICEF Ghana

www.unicef.org/intobycountry/ghanaAustralian Partner Organisation | UNICEF Australia

www.unicef.org.au

Typical Tamale market scenes

22

Sights of Ghana

23

This is the staggering and overwhelming scenario I faced when I

first joined the Centre for Injury Prevention and Research (CIPRB),

Bangladesh as a Media and Communications Officer in August

2010. CIPRB was established back in 2005 in response to the

Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey that revealed, in addition to

pneumonia, malnutrition or diarrheal disease, injury was one of the

leading causes of death in children in the country.

More specifically, one of the leading causes of death in children

outside infancy in Bangladesh was drowning – 18,000 children

drown every year. This is an underreported and under-recognised

issue, not just here in Bangladesh, but also throughout Asia, where

each year approximately 350,000 children die by drowning.

To apply established and effective drowning prevention strategies

that are adopted in countries like Australia is simply not feasible in

Bangladesh. Because of its tropical climate and yearly monsoon

season, water is everywhere in Bangladesh. It is not an option to

fence all ponds and ditches in the country. There are no backyard

pools to practise swimming and there is no awareness about the

importance of care around water.

As a result, CIPRB implemented some unique drowning prevention

interventions in a small number of project areas in Bangladesh. The

Centre established a community crèche program which is free for

children aged 1-4 years. They are provided with a fun and safe

environment between the hours of 9am and 1pm when mothers are

typically busy with household chores and can’t fully supervise their

children. For older children aged over 5 years, CIPRB established

the SwimSafe program which teaches kids not just swimming

techniques but also rescue skills. They undertake lessons in a

unique bamboo structure that is placed in rural ponds and since its

inception in 2005 the program has taught 100,000 children how to

swim. Incredibly, not one of those kids has since drowned.

Noticing the need for a specialised research centre to respond

to the mammoth issue of child drowning in this country, CIPRB

launched the International Drowning Research Centre – Bangladesh

(IDRC-B). With support from AusAID, the Royal Life Saving Society

Australia and The Alliance for Safe Children, the IDRC-B is the

world’s first research centre with a primary focus on reducing child

drowning in developing countries.

AYAD | Danyel WalkerCountry | BangladeshAssignment | Media and Communications OfficerHost Organisation | Centre for Injury Prevention and Research | www.ciprb.orgAustralian Partner Organisation | | The Royal Life Saving Society of Australia

www.royallifesaving.com.au

In Australia, around 50 children under the age of 18 drown every year. In Bangladesh, around 50 children drown every single day.

Life Saving Research

1624

As the issue extends right across Asia, the IDRC-B is already

partnering with organisations in Thailand and Vietnam to reduce

the horrific death rates in these countries.

To continue to implement effective drowning interventions in low

income countries, more research is needed and IDRC-B is leading

the world in this regard to develop sustainable interventions that

can be applied to other low income countries with similar risk

environments.

Despite only being in operation since August of last year, IDRC-B

has already commenced four research projects to continue in the

fight against childhood drowning in developing countries. These

projects are looking at the feasibility of teaching swimming in

portable pools, the risk taking behaviour of children who have

participated in the SwimSafe course, the effectiveness of CPR

in rural communities and the cost effectiveness of drowning

prevention strategies in rural Bangladesh.

Coming from a country where the ability to swim is a skill most of

us take for granted, and where a splash in the backyard swimming

pool and a dip in the ocean are a daily recreational activity for

many, bringing attention to the issue of drowning in developing

countries has been an enjoyable challenge.

The dedicated staff here are leading the world with their research

and are showing that drowning prevention is possible in low

income countries. It’s inspiring to work with such professionals and

assisting them in capacity building is humbling. I hope I have been

able to show my colleagues what is possible with media exposure

on the topic and how this can really make a difference in the work

they are doing.

While living in Dhaka as an AYAD has its everyday challenges

and frustrations, I can honestly say that working to reduce

the massive issue of drowning in this country has been a life-

changing experience. I’m looking forward to the rest of my time

in Bangladesh and know that when the time comes to leave I will

miss the country, the people, my colleagues and my fellow AYADs

immensely.

In Australia, around 50 children under the age of 18 drown every year. In Bangladesh, around 50 children drown every single day.

Danyel with colleague Nahida Nusrat from the International Drowning Research Centre and

and local children

Born in Iran, educated in French language schools across the

Pacific and in Europe, and learning English in the US, returned

AYAD Pierre Johannessen had a wealth of international

experiences before embarking on his 2007 AYAD adventure.

However, it was his time as an AYAD which was the catalyst

that lead him to co-found ‘Big Bang Ballers’, an international

NGO using the game of basketball to tackle youth poverty and

social disadvantage, recently earning him the 2010 ACT Young

Australian of the Year Award.

On completion of his AYAD assignment with Habitat for Humanity

International in Bangladesh (HFHB) in 2007, Pierre said “I can

confidently say that I am more prepared now for the work that

I want to be doing than I was before my time in Bangladesh”, a

claim which he has certainly proved since his return.

Pierre’s AYAD assignment saw him spending 12 months in

Dhaka, Bangladesh; a country in which 36% of the population

live on less than $1 a day. Pierre arrived in Bangladesh just 2

months before the country was devastated by Cyclone Sidr in

which thousands of Bangladeshi families lost their homes. He

was involved in his Host Organisation’s first Disaster Response

Project where he worked with the disaster assessment team to

assist with the relief effort.

Amongst his key achievement at HFHIB were the introduction of

new internal and external communication methods, the use of

innovative marketing techniques and the creation of enhanced

efficiency across the organisation. However, Pierre also had

25

Where are they now?

Returned AYAD and 2010 recipient of ACT Young Australian of the Year, Pierre

Johannessen, speaks of how his time as an AYAD influenced him to continue his work with

communities within Bangladesh and beyond.

a large influence on the Dhaka community outside of office hours.

As a keen basketballer, Pierre sought to continue playing whilst on

his AYAD assignment and therefore spent much of his free time

coaching and playing in the surrounding areas.

It was here, on the streets of Bangladesh that the idea for

community based basketball charity ‘Big Bang Ballers’ was

born. The organisation was founded by Pierre, two Frenchmen

and a Bangladeshi local who sought to unify local youth and

their communities and overcome youth poverty, social divides

and disadvantage through the sport. Together, they created

an organisation with the central goal of ‘providing an outlet for

those children least able to be children.’ The organisation has run

tournaments, entered and sponsored competitions, organised

skills training workshops, run basketball camps at orphanages and

schools, and provided equipment and food.

Three years have now passed since Pierre and his colleagues

first established the Big Bang Ballers in Bangladesh, now an

internationally recognised NGO. The organisation is based in

Australia and has expanded its activities from Bangladesh to

also benefit children in a further 10 countries, including Pakistan,

Nepal, Afghanistan and the Philippines. Since its inception, the

Big Bang Ballers has catered to over 10,000 children, created the

first ever basketball league in Bangladesh, built basketball courts

and donated over $25,000 worth of equipment and resources to

orphanages, schools and youth charities.

To honour his outstanding ongoing contribution to the international

humanitarian effort, Pierre recently received the 2010 ACT Young

Australian of the Year Award. Pierre has said “I am so humbled

by this great honour. Without my team and the dedication of so

many volunteers, I would not be where I am today. Such a simple

concept, using basketball as a means to fight poverty and social

disadvantage, has proven so successful in such a short period of

time because of the hard work of so many people around the world.

I am so proud to be part of this extraordinary organisation.”

While Pierre feels greatly honoured to be the recipient of such a

prestigious award, above all he is hopeful that this recognition will

raise the profile of the organisation and assist in bolstering further

support to expand their international reach.

This year the Big Bangs will be travelling to Mauritius, Uganda and

Papua New Guinea, as the programs continue to expand, thanks

to the tireless work of dedicated volunteers from all walks of life.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be the head of an organisation started

and now run entirely by volunteers” says Pierre, who has some 80

volunteers around the world actively involved in the management of

the organisation’s programs.

Pierre is now also a partner at Johannessen Legal & Migration, which

as well as traditional legal services provides pro-bono support for

new and developing NGOs and charities across the world. “I feel so

privileged to wake up every morning and do what I love; the AYAD

program was the catalyst to which I’ll always be indebted.”

AYAD | Pierre Johannessen

Country | Bangladesh

Assignment | Media and Communications Officer

Host Organisation | Habitat for Humanity

Bangladesh | www.habitatbangladesh.org

Australian Partner Organisation | Habitat for

Humanity Australia | www.habitat.org,au

26

www.bigbangballers.org

Australian Partner Organisations

27

The AYAD Program works with a diverse range of Australian Partner Organisations (APOs) who provide support, enthusiasm and expertise to projects in all our partner countries.

APOs are Australian government departments, non-government organisations (NGOs), educational institutions and private companies that have or wish to establish links with organisations working in development in Asia, the Pacific and Africa.

The benefits of being an Australian Partner Organisation are many and varied, including building new partnerships in our region, providing an amazing professional development opportunity for staff and making a positive contribution to development.

If you are interested in learning more about partnering with the AYAD Program, please contact the AYAD Partnerships Team on (freecall) 1800 225 592 or partnerships@austraining.com.au

The AYAD Program would like to thank our active APOs for their involvement and support.

ActionAid Australia

Adventist Development and Relief Agency Australia

AIDS Council of NSW

Arts Access Australia

Asia Pacific Journalism Centre

ATSE Crawford Fund

Attorney-General’s Department

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Catholic University

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation

Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Australian Football League - Oceania

Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific

Australian Human Rights Centre

Australian Institute of International Affairs

Australian National University

Australian Red Cross

Australian Rugby Union

Australian Salesian Mission Overseas Fund

Australian Sport Commission

Australian Youth Climate Coalition

Bahay Tuluyan Philippines Australia

Bali Street Dog Fund

Baptist World Aid Australia

Birds Australia

Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation

Burnet Institute

Cancer Council of Queensland

Cardno Emerging Markets

CARE Australia

Caritas Australia

CBM Australia - Nossal Institute Partnership

Centre for Refugee Research UNSW

Centrelink Australia

Charles Sturt University

ChildFund Australia

CLAN (Caring and Living as Neighbours)

CoDesign Studion

Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

Country Women’s Association

Credit Union Foundation Australia

CSIRO

Deakin University

Department of Agriculture and Food (WA)

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (QLD)

Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Office of Transport Security

Department of Justice and Attorney General (NSW)

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Development Gateway

Earth Systems Pty Ltd

Engineers Without Borders

Environmental Defender’s Office NSW LTD

Federal Court of Australia

FIBA Oceania (Oceania Basketball Confederation)

Football Federation Victoria

Foundation for Developing Cambodian Communities

Foundation for Development Cooperation

Friends and Partners of East Timor

Friends of Venilale

GHD Pty Ltd

GK Ancop Australia

Global Development Group

Grameen Foundation

Green Cross Australia

Griffith University, Griffith International

GRM International

Habitat for Humanity Australia

Hatch

Health Communication Resources Inc.

Hope for Cambodian Children

HOPE Worldwide (Australia)

Indigo Foundation Inc.

Industry and Investment NSW

International Centre for Eyecare Education

International Cricket Council East Asia Pacific

International Development Law OrganisationAPOs

Australian Partner Organisations

28

International Rugby Board

Interplast Australia & New Zealand

James Cook University, School of Marine and Tropical Biology

JTA International

La Trobe University, National Centre for Prosthetics and Orthotics

Lifeline International

Many Hands International

Marie Stopes International Australia

Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance

Merri Community Health Services

Monash University

Murdoch Univeristy

National Council of Churches in Australia

Netball Australia

New Hope Cambodia Australia

New Hope Foundation

Oceania Athletics Association

Oceania Rowing Confederation

Oceania Softball Confederation/Softball Australia

Opportunity International Australia

OT Australia

Oxfam Australia

Pacific Asia Tourism Pty Ltd

Peaceworks Pty Ltd

Permaculture Research Institute of Australia

Plan International Australia

Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Queensland University of Technology

Radio 4EB

Rainforest Rescue Ltd

Reef Check Australia

RMIT University

Rose Charities Australia

Rotary Club of Prospect

Royal Australasian College of Physicians

Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children

Royal Life Saving Society Australia

Save the Children Australia

Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association

Scouts Australia NSW Branch

Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia

Sinclair Knight Merz

Southern Cross University

Speech Language & Learning: Educational Therapy Consultancy

St George Hospital Cancer Care Centre

St George Hospital Renal Department

Surf Lifesaving Australia

Surf Lifesaving Tasmania

Susila Dharma Australia Inc.

TEAR Australia

Tennis Australia

The Fred Hollows Foundation

The George Institute for International Health

The Leprosy Mission Australia

Transparency International Australia

UNAA

UNHCR

UNICEF Australia

UN Women Australia

Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA

UniQuest Pty Ltd

UnitingWorld

University of Adelaide

University of Melbourne

University of New England

University of New South Wales,

University of Newcastle

University of Queeensland

University of South Australia

University of Sydney

University of Tasmania

University of Western Australia

University of Western Sydney

URS Sustainable Development

Wetlands International – Oceania

Women With Disabilities Australia (WWDA)

World Bank Group

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)

World Vision Australia

WWF Australia

Youth Challenge Australia

YWCA Australia

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WHAT IS AYAD?The Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development

(AYAD) Program supports skilled young Australians

(18-30) on short term assignments in developing countries in

Asia, the Pacific and Africa.

MIILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALSThe AYAD Program supports the Australian

Government’s commitment to the Millennium

Development Goals.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?Australian Freecall: 1800 225 592

Telephone: + 61 (8) 8364 8500

Managed by Austraining International Pty Ltd

Level 1, 41 Dequetteville Tce

Kent Town SA 5067

ww.ayad.com.au

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