Amizade Announces New Program Working with Aborigines in Australia

Amizade is proud to announce a new program in beautiful Hervey Bay, Australia.  Unfortunately in Australia, many aborigines have become dependent on welfare and have lost the desire and motivation to work.  Furthermore, as many of the aborigines have become assimilated into the Anglo culture of Australia, their music, art, and culture is being lost. The project actually takes place 15 miles outside of Hervey Bay in Scrub Hill at the Korrawinga Community Farm.  The Korrawinga is a nonprofit organization that was created to preserve aboriginal culture and give aboriginal people a chance to become self-sufficient.

There will be four ongoing projects at the Korrawinga Community Farm that the volunteers will have an opportunity to be involved with.  Each of the developmental projects are designed to provide small business opportunities for aborigines:
1. Construction of a community center - Volunteers will help build a community center that will be used to teach younger aborigines and tourists the arts, crafts, dance, and the history of the aboriginal people.  Volunteers do not need any skills.  Local masons and carpenters will supervise the volunteers on all aspects of the project.
2. Bush Tucker Trail ñ This is an interpretive trail that teaches people about what plants aborigines use for food and medicine.  Volunteers will help make signs and maintain the trail.
3. Organic Garden/Flower Garden ñ Volunteers will help the aborigines to plant and cultivate gardens.
4. Tree Nursery ñ Volunteers will help plant and cultivate tea trees.  The oil of the tea trees is used for medicinal and dietary purposes all over the Pacific Rim.

What would an Amizade program be without making friends with the local people?  Australians are renown for their warmth, hospitality, and easy going lifestyle.  Volunteers get the opportunity to work and play with the local people and get the opportunity to experience first hand the rich culture of Australia.  The possibilities for adventure, recreation, and cultural enlightenment include snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, exploring Frazer Island which is the longest sand island in the world home to both temperate and tropical rainforest, and of course, seeing some of the most unusual flora and fauna in the world from wombats to wallabies.

Amizade plans to run the first Australia program in January of 2001, so plan ahead.

This summer, the Appelbaum/King Family made their third trip to the OTO Ranch.  As part of an Eagle Scout project, Ben Appelbaum recruited other Boy Scouts and families to come and help work on the ranch.  The main project this summer was building new cedar shingle roofs and replacing logs on the guest cabins.  Ellen Pechman, a volunteer from Washington D.C., said that putting the wood shingles on the roof was like putting together a puzzle.  An OTO program would be incomplete without building some jack-leg fencing.  With the help of the ìover 6 footî Trost family, volunteers were able to complete the fencing around the horse pasture.

The second group finished roofing the cabins and installing the windows and doors that the Millikin University group refinished this past spring.  This group was fortunate enough to see a double rainbow over the lodge.  Wayne Goutermont, of the Forest Service, said it was a sign that next year we will begin to work on the lodge.

Amizade Announces New Program With the Navajo Nation

The Navajo Nation is like no place on earth with its beautiful sandstone mesas, towering buttes, colorful canyons, and dramatic desert scenery.  From the Navajo Code Talkers who won World War II to exquisite artisans, the Navajo have a fascinating culture and history.

Tribal Council Member, James Bilagody, local school officials, and community members have invited Amizade to work on several projects on the Navajo Nation including building school playgrounds, building a field house for the community center, and building an addition on the Chapter House.

The program will be based in Tuba City, located an hour and half from the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and Monument Valley.  Volunteers will have plenty of opportunities to experience the scenic beauty of the Southwest, as well as learn about various aspects of Navajo culture.

For 2000, this program will only be available for customized groups.

Volunteer Opportunities with Amizade in 2000-2001

Brazil & Bolivia

The following dates are tentative and subject to change depending on flight availability:  The cost includes room and board, recreational activities, and round trip airfare from Miami. To participate on these programs, volunteers must sign up no later than May 1, 2000.

Bolivia:  July 23 ñ August 6, 2000              US$2,150
Brazil:  August 7 ñ August 21, 2000           US$2,650
Bolivia/Brazil: July 23 ñ August 21, 2000    US$3,600

*In May of 2000, we will be doing a service learning program in Bolivia with the University of Pittsburgh.  If you are interested in joining this program, contact Mike Sandy at the University of Pittsburgh - 412-648-1482.

Yellowstone

The following are tentative dates for our OTO programs. The cost includes room and board, recreational activities, and educational programs.  Volunteers must get to the program site on their own.  We do offer a shuttle service from the Bozeman (Montana) airport to the OTO Ranch.. For more information regarding transportation, please contact our office.  For volunteers who opt to participate in consecutive programs, there is a 20% discount. To participate on these programs, volunteers must sign up no later than June 1, 2000.

Session 1:  July 23 - July 29, 2000                 US$595
Session 2:  July 30 - August 5, 2000              US$595
Session 3:  August 6 - August 12, 2000         US$595
Session 4:  August 13 - August 19, 2000       US$595

Korrawinga Aboriginal Community - Australia

The following are tentative dates for our Australia programs. The cost includes room and board, recreational activities, and educational programs.  Volunteers must get to the program site on their own.. For more information regarding transportation, please contact our office. To participate on these programs, volunteers must sign up no later than  October 15, 2000.

January 4- 18, 2001                             US$1,700

Navajo Nation ñ Tuba City, Arizona

*In March of 2000, we will be doing a service learning program on the Navajo Nation with the University of Pittsburgh.  If you are interested in joining this program, contact Mike Sandy at the University of Pittsburgh - 412-648-1482.

Elderhostel Programs:

In 2000, Amizade will be conducting 5 Elderhostel programs in Brazil and Bolivia.  Elderhostel is a nonprofit organization that runs educational service programs for people 55 and older.  For more information regarding these programs please contact Elderhostel at (617) 426-8056.

Elderhostel Brazil Session 1: November 20 ñ December 4
Elderhostel Brazil Session 2: December 4  - December 18
Elderhostel Bolivia Session 1: October 1 - October 15
Elderhostel Bolivia Session 2: October 16 - October 30
Elderhostel Bolivia Session 3: November 6 ñ November 20

If you you have a group of volunteers (6 or more people- several families, a college group, church/temple group, etc.), we can customize a program for you:

Customized Programs & Alternative Break Programs

BACK TO AMIZADE NEWS