Project Overview
This is a fundraising project designed for Sixth Form pupils from schools to go to Australia or the USA for the trip of a lifetime and in return raise sponsorship for the Foundation.
In 2002 the first Oz Experience trips were held whereby 30 youngsters from across the UK traveled Down Under raising over £60,000 for our work for children with terminal cancer and their families. This success has been built on with a team of 60 traveling in 2003, 95 in 2004 and 107 in 2005 and approximately 130 annually thereafter. As it stands to date, we have now sent approximately 1000 young adults to Australia on this expedition. When they arrive in Australia they have time to settle in for a couple of days in one of the Australian Governments official hostels before starting their conservation work. The conservation work takes place from 8am until 4pm with breaks in the morning and afternoon. After work the group will gather together to cook dinner.
After a week of hard work it’s on to Sydney for some sightseeing – there is Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, shopping at Darling Harbour and a visit to the Sydney Jewish Museum. They then all fly back together to the UK.
Due to the success and demand for the Oz Experience we decided in 2009 to create a new and exciting project. In 2011 the first USA Experience trip is scheduled. The youngsters will travel to the USA to participate in a variety of community projects including restoration work in New York City working with The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) founded by Bette Midler. They can expect to experience anything from clearing away weeds to planting trees within the major parks in New York City. They are accompanied by Team Leaders and also have NYRP staff with them throughout their restoration work.
After the project work has been completed the team will have the chance to experience a visit to the New York Jewish Museum, Reach the top of the Empire State Building, Visit Times Square and have dinner at Planet Hollywood, Visit the 9/11 reconstruction site and Museum as well as visit a fire services team who were involved with 9/11. One of the highlights of the experience will be the involvement the team will have with the oncology units in New York City. The team would have the chance to help create life changing experiences in New York itself and meet some of the children and their families by putting on a Family event. They may also have the chance to catch an internal flight and see such wonders as Niagara Falls or Washington DC. After this expedition the team will fly back to the UK.
The youngsters who travel to either Australia or the USA will participate in conservation/restoration work at various locations organised and supervised staff. Australia’s largest conservation organization is CVA and New York’s is NYRP. They can expect to experience anything from clearing lantana weed, to planting trees to building pathways.