Empower Youth organisation provides aid to Africa
Sun 13 December 2009
Roseanna Langmead, Bachelor of Journalism
The lives of residents in an impoverished Zambian village in Africa are improving, one Empower Youth trip at a time.
Empower Youth headed Lee Cloney has directed the organisation to travel to Zambia a number of times to help rural villages become self sustainable.
As a result of Ms Cloney’s, a mother of five, and her 19-strong team of dedicated helpers’ work, the project in Kapiri, Zambia, run from September 21 to October 10 2009, was successful.
Working alongside the Zambian people, Empower Youth were able to complete a number of goals, such as building a Vocational Training Centre, a kindergarten, chicken coops and composting toilets.
Although small steps, these sustainable projects are necessary to meet Ms Cloney’s desire to “transform a community” such as those in Zambia.
Ms Cloney said these improvements to village life were achieved by employing empowerment principles.
“We didn’t do it for them, we did it with them,” Ms Cloney said.
As well as helping to improve standard of living, Empower Youth also brought knowledge to the village, educating the people on health, environment and discussing personal aspirations.
This was Ms Cloney’s fourth trip to Zambia, and her third accompanied by students participating with Empower Youth.
Ms Cloney said the word “amazing” was accurate in describing the latest Empower Youth adventure.
As for the team, consisting of herself, 15 students, a nurse, a wildlife expert and two teachers, Ms Cloney described them as “extraordinary”.
“There was a beautiful team feel,” Ms Cloney said.
University of the Sunshine Coast student Emily Haynes, aged 18 and a resident of Mount Coolum, had always wanted to travel to Africa and saw Empower Youth as a chance to combine travelling with helping others.
For Ms Haynes, the trip gave her not just a huge sense of satisfaction at what was achieved, but also an appreciation for what she has in Australia.
“I learnt just how much poverty there is,” Ms Haynes said.
“You can’t even begin to depict what it’s like until you see it with your own eyes.
“What you get out of it is life changing, and you will learn to appreciate everything you have.”
Ms Haynes said she would recommend that anyone take part in such an amazing opportunity.
In November and September 2010, Empower Youth intends to run two trips.
The first will continue work in Kapiri, Africa, while the other will be to Andhra Pradesh, India.
For more information, phone 0401207222 or visit www.empoweryouthinternational.com
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