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Volunteers on Oodnadatta Adventure by Ed Story 27 May 2014
F
or Australian volunteers Dale Weegberg and Alice Krakouer, the chance to travel to the remote Aboriginal community of Oodnadatta on a 10-week volunteer project was a lifechanging, learning experience. Both Dale and Alice worked on community-driven projects, identified by Oodnadatta’s community leaders. They worked with the Oodnadatta Aboriginal School to help improve literacy levels of students who had fallen behind, assisted aged-care residents to develop and maintain community vegetable gardens, and worked on a beautification project with the Dunjiba Community Council. Australian Volunteers International (AVI) is now calling young Aboriginal volunteers 1835 years of age, to apply for the Aboriginal Volunteer Program in Oodnadatta. Applications close Wed 11 June. Dale said the experience was a huge confidence builder and a great learning opportunity. “I really had to step out of my comfort zone and learnt a lot from the people of Oodnadatta.” “The friendships I’ve made will be life-long connections, and even though I’ve haven’t been there in a little while, I am still in contact with many of the people I met during my stay,” he said. For Alice, living in a remote community was a stark contrast from her usual life back in Perth. “Living in Oodnadatta was completely different to what I knew but the whole experience really enhanced my cultural knowledge,”
Top: Elder Ronny Finn (right) with Kooma woman Khawanha-Rose Powye. Above left: Community elders sharing traditional bead making skills with volunteers Cristal Walters (left) and Alice Krakouer (centre). Above right: Tree planting at the Aboriginal School (l-r) community member Tania Bailes with volunteer, Alice Krakouer
she said. “It was a privilege to meet the community members. It is a group of people I will always feel connected too, it was like having a whole new family around.” AVI Aboriginal Volunteer Program Coordinator, Christina Jenkins, said that AVI are proud to partner with the Oodnadatta community, the South Australian Aboriginal Reference Group and Volunteering SA&NT to support the third intake of Aboriginal volunteers. “We urge any young people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island
backgrounds, to apply for this fantastic opportunity. Participants will travel to Oodnadatta from midJuly until mid-September and will be fully supported on their journey” she said. “Dale and Alice have been really great role models for this project. They have both come away with increased self-confidence, a greater resilience, and a stronger sense of their place in the community.” All volunteers will receive training, project support, airfares, transport, accommodation, living allowances and insurance.
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