February 2011 Region Meeting – Alternative to Schoolies

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Region of WA held it’s first meeting for 2011 on 5th February. We were delighted to welcome 6 students from the Shire of Kalamunda schools plus one leader, Aimee Middas, to talk about their recent experiences in Timor L’Este. These students were chosen from over 30 who applied to be part of the contingent to fly to Timor L’Este under the ‘Youth Action Kalamunda’ programme “Alternative to Schoolies Week”. They elected to work in one of three villages for 2 weeks helping with construction, craft work, and teaching English, whilst living among the villagers, instead of partying for “leavers” week after their final exams in November. Arrangements on the ground in Timor L’Este were undertaken by two NGOs, one of which was Catalpa International. A few Western Australian clubs have supported a project under Catalpa’s guidance, creating a Sustainable Farm in Eraulo, which was where one group were based. The 20 chosen students and 4 young leaders spent many months leading up to departure, raising funds and saving up to make the journey to Timor L’Este which was to cost approximately $2500 per student.

Leader Aimee was in the first group of students to take part in this programme two years ago, and she was so enthused that she put her hand up to be a Junior Leader last year, and to go again this year as a Senior Leader. It was uplifting to the Soroptimists present at the meeting to hear these committed young men and women talk with such enthusiasm about their amazing life-journey. They shared with us their impressions of the country, their delight at the friendliness of the people, and also what their most memorable moments were. They talked of how their experiences have changed their attitude to everyday living, in particular the realisation that a happy and fulfilling life can be enjoyed in even the most simple of conditions, (notably without an ipod or iphone). All of the students are keen to return once they have completed their tertiary education, to be able to assist in an even more meaningful way.