01) It sounds a very short period of stay
02) Language Barriers
03) Cultural differences
04) Parent support
05) Logistics
06) Home stay
07) US Travel
08) Selection process
09) Chaperones
10) Pocket money
11) Violence
12) Number in group
13) Male/female ratios
14) Projects to return to
15) What skills will these young people acquire at Camp Hazen
16) Is there a support system for them back in Rio
17) What, specifically, will be different about their lives
18) When will young American have an opportunity to visit Brazil?
1. It sounds a very short period of stay. Can participants really gain enough from a stay abroad as short as four weeks?
The BRAYCE programs actually span about nine months and consists of six distinct phases.
1. Select: BRAYCE works with the established partner organizations to identify and select motivated young people who believe in themselves, have ambition and personality. At least one of the BRAYCE principals participates in the interview and orientation process with the candidates, their families and local community leaders.
2. Inspire: Stimulating the young people to aspire to achieve meaningful goals with realistic targets has a positive effect on their outlook on life. Transporting them out of their normal environment for a period of time provides them with opportunities to try new experiences. They need environments that offer positive peer and adult relationships, structure, guidance and high expectations. Equally important as the orientation program is the program to debrief, tutor and support youngsters returning from the Camp Hazen experience and settling back into the reality of life in their Rio community.
3. Support: Support is provided for the participants and their families throughout the entire process, from initial selection to community work projects on their return, and includes:
Orientation: Central to any program that selects and brings youngsters from one country to another is a comprehensive orientation period for potential participants, their parents, relatives and local communityleaders. Everybody involved must understand the objectives of the program, the credibility and trackrecord of the hosting organizations, the specific responsibilities of each person, the costs incurred andprovided for, the travel logistics, the details of the entire curriculum and the expected outcomes. Finally, they need to understand what is in place to provide ongoing support once the camping program iscomplete and how the returning young camper or leader can start to contribute within their homecommunity. Family and local community support of the entire concept is essential.
Language Tuition: The participants receive six month of intensive English language tutoring before they leave for the United States. In Phase III, American participants will receive six month of Portuguese language training.
Acculturation: To prepare the participants for the different world they will be moving into the program usesindividual discussion, lectures, books and video (made by previous participants) to provide them with a basic understanding of the environment into which they will be transported. This will include the travel process, thecamp environment and experience and the potential for family or home-stay sessions.
4. Teach:The Camp Experience represents one month of intensive teambuilding activities and leadership training balanced with outdoor and creative pursuits, land and water sports. These experiences enable the young people to develop the concrete and practical skills necessary to become effective leaders both inside and outside camp. Experience in this supportive environment enables the youngsters to develop their own counseling, instructional and leadership skills.
The overall goal of the program is to enable the participants to develop the life and leadership skills to become effective leaders and inspired members of their communities.
The array of program activities include:
- Planning, Scheduling and Organizing
- Counseling and Communication
- Repairs and Maintenance
- Environmental Studies
- Styles of Leadership
- Overnight Camping
- Time Management
- Wilderness Travel
- Safety Standards
- Team Building
- Survival Skills
- Climbing Wall
- Tower Ropes
- Life-Guarding
- Broadcasting
- Orientation
- First Aid
- Soccer
- Drama
- CPR
and for fun:
- Sailing
- Fishing
- Kayaking
- Swimming
- Rock-climbing
- Mountain Biking
This range of activities and training introduces participants to all the camp activities, creates a feeling of safety and comfort enabling participants to experience a sense of growth, self-discovery and personal development. It also ensures participants take an active leadership role with program activities and empowers them with the courage and ability to step up and take charge and demonstrate responsibility.
5. Engage: The program is structured to ensure that on their return home, the participants are fully prepared and ready to continue their involvement with community projects. During the Inspire phase they are told about the community projects expected to be available on their return. They have the opportunity to discuss the projects, choose one or more of interest to them, explore what is expected of them and understand how their efforts are measured. The experience is about providing opportunities to learn the importance of developing peer relationships and understanding the importance of community activities.
6. Monitor: Monitoring involves measuring how they progress and achieve against the agreed targets, regular discussion a. Outcomes - how their lives will be different
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2. Language Barriers: How will the participants manage in leadership programs if they do not speak the appropriate second language?
Young people are wonderfully adaptive to new environments and, especially in a supportive environment, will pick up sufficient basic language to communicate. For the leadership learning environment it is important for participants to have a fundamental knowledge and basic tutoring will be provided for several months prior to the exchange visit. It is clearly important for the participants to apply themselves and make adequate progress. Some facility in English is necessary, the level being dependent on the program the young people are attending. We will work with several local Rio language schools to provide some tutoring in English.
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3. Cultural differences: Will participants learn about the different culture they are bound for? Acculturation to prepare the participants for the different world they will be moving into the program uses individual discussion, lectures, books and video to provide participants with a basic understanding of the environment into which they will be transported. This includes the travel process, the camp environment and experience and the potential for family or home-stay sessions.
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4. Parent support: How will parent, relatives and friends know what the program is about?
Parents of youngsters are invited to participate in the orientation and after camp support processes. Local community leaders, close relatives and friends of the family are consulted and invited to participate in the orientation and after-camp support processes.
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5. Logistics
This consists of such aspects as travel arrangements, airline "unaccompanied minor" support service, passports, visas, security, health checks, health insurance, US travel arrangements, communications, expenses, baggage and clothing and additional stay plans.
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6. Home stay
Home stays are a possibility in the future.
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7. US Travel
Additional travel is not planned at present.
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8. Selection process
Preparation begins with the selection process to identify suitably qualified and motivated participants.
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9. Chaperones
Chaperones are not needed in the current program. At Camp Hazen girls are in female cabin areas and boys in male cabin areas. On any local trips the youngsters are accompanied by Camp Hazen counselors and staff.
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10. Pocket money
Pocket money is deposited in each camp youngster's account and can be used to buy items at the Camp Store, such as stamps, writing materials and envelopes, healthy candy, drinks, clothing and souvenirs.
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11. Violence
Violent behavior is not tolerated in Camp and staff are trained to ensure order is kept and any incident is handled appropriately.
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12. Number in group
The LEAdership 1 group consists normally of between 10 and 14 young trainee counselors. There are 320 young campers in each session.
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13. Male/female ratios
Usually close to 50/50.
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14. Projects to return to
Each young leader participating at Camp Hazen knows what responsibilities and projects they are most likely to return to.
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15. What skills will these young people acquire at Camp Hazen that will enable them to lead different lives when they return to Rio.
· How to make friends with those from other countries
· Something of the cultures of other countries
· The importance of personal growth & relationship development
· How to improve their facility in the English language
· How to train others in planning and managing projects
· How to teach life and leadership skills to others
· The basics of youth work; abuse, behavior, development
· Something of American Culture and values
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16. Is there a support system for them back in Rio or their home location? New opportunities?
They return to their homes, family and friends in Rio and also continue with their work and responsibilities with IBISS. They are monitored on a regular basis to monitor their progress and measure how their new skills are being utilized in their communities. They are being supported to further their education and are plans are being developed for a program to provide each of them with a financial, development and career mentor.
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17. What, specifically, will be different about their lives because they had this experience?
This question is best answered through the quotes from the two young people after they returned to their homes in Rio de Janeiro:
I will never forget this wonderful time. This opportunity you have given me was more than a dream realized and all the words in the world are not sufficient to say how happy I am.
I realize that the way I thought before is completely different from how I think now. Now I am more responsible and doing everything. I can make a better future for myself, which means having a good education, studying and thereby being completely independent. I will now be a good example to kids by behaving well and teaching them what I learnt. In other words, putting into practice the skills I have learnt on the leadership course.
Suellen Ignacio Alves
I have returned with the belief that anything is possible particularly in my personal life and how I think about the world and my place in it.
I have more courage to put my ideas into practice now and this has already helped me deal better with difficult situations. It taught me how to treat children and my LEAdership experience has enabled me to put into practice some of the things I learnt with great success.
Gilmar Oliveira Aragao
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18. When will young American have an opportunity to visit Brazil?
In 2008
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