Adventure of a Lifetime
21 May 2018
Otago Community Trust is passionate about assisting our Otago youth. Youth Health and Wellbeing is one of our three key strategic priority areas, and in 2018 the Trust was pleased to provide a $10,430 grant to the Spirit of Adventure Trust allowing up to 10 Otago youth the opportunity to have an adventure of a lifetime.
The Spirit of Adventure experience provides a unique environment for youth to focus on learning as a team in order to develop stronger communication skills, self-reliance, self-discipline, self-esteem, and confidence and leadership. Rebecca McKay from Otago Girls High School was one of the grant recipients and provides a great insight into what this experience meant to her. With the generous help of Otago Community Trust I was able to travel up to Auckland where I boarded the Spirit of New Zealand for a 10 day development voyage. Sailing from Auckland to the Coromandel would have to be one of the most memorable experiences I have had.
During this time I learnt about leadership and how to communicate with a team of people from all different backgrounds and ages. I gained the confidence to be able to do things I have never done before like climbing to the top of the 33 metre high mast, which was a big highlight for me. Rising at 6.30am every morning and jumping into the Pacific Ocean certainly tested my motivation and resilience. The skills I have learnt I am able to use and share in the community groups I am involved with, and I can’t wait to go back as a volunteer in the near future.
“The skills I have learnt I am able to use and share in someway every day in the community” - Rebecca McKay Recipent