WELCOME TO THE OZ EXPERIENCE

In 2001 the Joshua Foundation introduced an exciting new event to its timetable- the Oz Experience, a project specifically designed to provide young people with the opportunity to change the lives of children with terminal cancer. This overseas challenge offers the trip of a lifetime in exchange for youngsters raising sponsorship money, half of which pays for the trip and the other half comes to our work for children with terminal cancer.

For more information see the Oz Experience Website.

SO WHAT IS THE OZ EXPERIENCE?

The Oz Experience is a fundraising project designed for Year 12 & 13 pupils from schools across the UK who will venture to Australia for the trip of a lifetime and in return raise sponsorship money for the Joshua Foundation In 2002, 30 youngsters from across the UK travelled down under with the Oz Experience, raising over £60,000 for our work for kids with terminal cancer. In the summer of 2003, 60 youngsters made the journey. In 2004 we had a team of 95, in 2005 a team of 107. Since then approximately 130 team members make the trip every year.

The youngsters travel to Australia to, amongst other things, participate in much needed conservation projects run by the Australian Conservation Team volunteers, Australia's largest conservation organisation. During this project the youngsters can expect to experience everything from planting trees: working at a koala bear reserve; tending to the protection of fairy penguins and learning about aboriginal cultural/environmental issues.The Oz Experience trips are led by experienced Team Leaders. The groups fly from the UK at varying times in the summer with leading airlines like Qantas/BA, Virgin Atlantic or Singapore Airlines and arrive in either Sydney or Melbourne via a stop down in Singapore or possibly Bangkok.

This is an idea of the structure of the expedition for a team flying to Melbourne.

Once in Melbourne, the groups stay at the Queensberry Hostel, one of the Australian Governments official hostels.

The time spent in Melbourne allows the group to recover from their jet lag and also provides some sightseeing opportunities- a real highlight of the trip is the ride on the Puffing Billy Steam Train in the Dandegong Mountains. Teams have also enjoyed the Neighbours Official tours and visits to the Rialto Towers.

The groups also make a very important visit to Melbourne Children's Hospital where they take gifts for the children on the Oncology ward.

The Groups based in Melbourne often depart for the conservation projects in the Grampian Mountains and Philip Island. There is no such thing as an average day on the ATCV ConConservation Experience, but the youngsters can expect to work on a project from 8am until 4pm, with breaks in the morning and afternoon, and a break for lunch. After a hard days work, the group will gather together to cook dinner.

After a week of hard work it's on to Sydney for some sight seeing- there is the trip to Manley,; a visit to Bondi Beach; shopping at Darling Harbour; and a visit to Sydney Jewish Museum and the real highlight of Sydney- climbing the Harbour Bridge.

SO WHY AUSTRALIA?

The Joshua Foundation firmly believes that it is in the looking after of our environment that the future health of our children lies. This project directly comcompliments the work ethos of the foundation and actively encourages the youngsters involved to appreciate the precariousness of the world we live in. They will makmake a real contribution to the the work of ATCV - The Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers which completes 1,500 conservation projects across Australia each year.

The Joshua Foundation also firmly encourages young people to be a source of support for other youngsters not as fortunate. We endeavour to make life a real experience for those hit by terminal cancer, but also, in turn we believe that fundraising should be fun too! We want these young people to have the time of their lives and to know that their actions will also bring great joy to children who really need a moment of hope!