| Participants: 55 | Nations Represented: 7 |
Nambucca Heads, Australia— Island Friendship
Duration: January 13 - 22, 2002
With a goal of promoting Island Friendship and reconciliation between people, 55 enthusiastic representatives from seven nations (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Soloman Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Samoa) joined together in working with a team of IIFWP Ambassadors for Peace in creating a community area Nambucca Heads, Australia that was for the benefit of local Aboriginal residents.
During our time working and also at several educational and cultural programs we were joined by many from the community. The work we completed included constructing two gazebos, fundraising and installing playground equipment, landscaping the playground area and repairing a community building. This is the 3rd RYS project in that community and now as a result the Aboriginal community has a beautiful area set aside for intergenerational use.
During our stay, participants slept and ate at two local schools and had the opportunity to enjoy both the ocean and the natural beauty of the land. Near the closing of the activities, 250 community members joined in a cultural program which pulled everyone together in a deep bond of friendship. A nature trek was organized by an Aboriginal guide immediately following the program.