POLE TO POLE YOUTH CHALLENGE
by Jonathan Earle
The Pole to Pole Leadership Institute, founded by a Canadian Adventure Leader and Inspirational speaker Martyn Williams, was set up to inspire the youth of today to stand up and be leaders within their communities whilst addressing the critical issues of our time, such as poverty, AIDS, Fair Trade, and critical wildlife management. The Institute is currently calling for applicants aged 18-28 to apply for a South to North Pole human-powered journey.
What does the South to North Pole human powered journey involve?
One team of 12 international youth will ski Antarctica, sail to Africa, and bicycle and hike Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa. The second team will take over from the summit, and continue on into Europe, Russia and finally to the Artic. “The journey will take 18 months” Williams says, “and nobody ever comes back the same from something like this.” This is the second journey of this nature for Williams, after completing Pole to Pole 2000 with a group of 8 international youth. Over 800 young people have already applied from over 50 countries, so the momentum is gathering fast!
What journey will the young people make?
The way Pole to Pole is reaching these youth is through a seemingly cool HUMAN-POWERED ODYSSEY, from the South Pole to the North via Africa. This expedition is a world-first, and is inspirational by anyone’s standards. The fact that youth are the expedition team shows other youth WHAT IS ACHIEVABLE when you put your mind, heart and soul into something that you believe in! This is the second journey of this nature, and the first was a great success!!! Two teams of 12 international youths will traverse a hemisphere each. Mt Kilimanjaro’s summit will be the changeover point. This team will be followed by a documentary crew that will give on-going global webcasts and coverage.
What Community Projects will be helped?
More young people will be part of the adventure, and will volunteer their time on community projects in Africa such as: establishing fresh water wells for consumption and crop production. This is especially needed because cholera is a water-born disease and Africa reported a total of 108 067 cases, accounting for 96% of the global notified cholera cases (Weekly Epidemiological Record, 2004). The project will also include building orphanages for children with AIDS. This is a huge issue, as by 2003, 15 million children under 18 had been orphaned by HIV/AIDS worldwide. About 12 million of these live in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is expected that this number will have risen to more than 18 million by 2010. (www.avert.org/aidsorphans.htm) Other projects that will be helped include critical wildlife habitat projects, Fair Trade coffee education, and solar oven and computer distribution and education.
Teaching about Global Issues
Yet another aspect of the project is that other young people will work with youth in Europe, educating about volunteering within their communities, helping those less fortunate than themselves and recycling. Thousands of schools will be visited.
Even more young people will travel through Europe and North America offering half day courses to over 4000 schools. During these activities the youth will learn the value of service, the key elements of teamwork, and the power of leadership.
Linking the 3 teams
The expedition team will pass through these projects helping the local teams, whilst showing visually what work is being achieved, to the world youth and public. These 3 groups of youth, together form the overall wider picture of the Pole to Pole Leadership Institute. Their interaction with each other will be a fundamental part of the success of the project.
How can I find out more?
Both the Trek and Advanced team’s stories and journals will be available on-line for these youth and others worldwide. These will offer inspiration to many thousands, if not millions of youth worldwide, and challenge them to think of these current, critical global issues.
Can I get involved?
You too can play a part in this ever growing global community for change. The webpage has ALL the necessary information. Also you can read more from me by “Search for an Applicant”. Each applicant is asked to find ten sponsors contributing US$25 each, and therefore the community grows. Applications close on August 5th, 2006. If you have any questions please direct them to jon_earle@yahoo.com
Go the Extra Mile!!!
This is part of what I am currently doing. Each applicant can find the donations from 10 supporting members and be eligible for selection. Or you can choose to “Go the extra mile” and find 5 more FULL applicants, each having found their own donations. It is about bringing together a community of people. If you find these applicants, you will receive a direct entry to the Canadian selection week in September.
“Joining a Pole to Pole Journey is not about the experience you already have. It’s about putting your heart and commitment into a team, into yourself, and into making a difference in this world. It is about the experience, you will gain and the impact you will have.”
or a direct link to my page with photos on it
Find out more from the Pole to Pole Website.
