Partner volunteer program expands to Africa
5 November 2009
A University of Sydney partner volunteer program, the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program (AYAD), has recently been expanded to include African nations Ghana and Kenya.
AYAD is funded by AusAid, the Australian international development and aid agency, and supports young Australian volunteers, aged 18-30 who would like to work in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific and now Africa on a short-term assignment.
The University of Sydney is an official Australian Partner Organisation with the AYAD programme and last week hosted a session with AusAid to discuss opportunities for staff and students to partner with the program.
Danielle Penn, International Development Manager, Scholarships and Grants from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor International said that AYAD offers a unique opportunity for students to discover and immerse themselves into a new culture while contributing to the development of the country.
"The Program strengthens mutual understanding between Australia and the countries of the Asia Pacific region and Africa, whilst making a positive contribution to development. It is also an outstanding career development opportunity for young Australians," said Danielle.
"This partnership helps to build and reinforce strong connections with governments, companies and organizations working in the Asia-Pacific Region and Africa, raising its profile in the region."
Every year, the AYAD Program places 400 young Australians on short-term assignments (3 to 12 months). Since it began in 1998, the AYAD Program has worked in 21 different countries across a broad range of areas from health, environment, rural development to gender, governance, justice, education and infrastructure development.
AusAid also offers a VIDA Program (Volunteers for International Development from Australia), which provides short and long term assignments, from 1 to 36 months, in the Asia-Pacific. VIDA volunteers work with local counterparts to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.
For more information about these programs go to www.ayad.com.au www.vidavolunteers.com.au Contact: Michelle Wood Phone: 02 9351 3191