IOATP Program Winds to a Close
The Integrated Outdoor Adventure Therapy Program, begun in 2001, draws to a close this December 15 as the latest funded period concludes. Over the past six years the program has benefited over 30,000 youth.
In its current form IOATP relies on a network of youth clubs located throughout Southern Province. The clubs range in size from 30 to 120 members, and are the vehicle through which the program directs its development program.
Klaas Overlade, the program manager of the program for the last year, describes some of the concepts behind the program. “It’s very important for the youth to know that they can do things together, it doesn’t really matter what it is, it’s the working together that is necessary. We find that if you get the youth together in groups they can help themselves a lot, both with trauma healing and with poverty reduction, etc.”
This year 450 members of these clubs were given training. 150 were put through Outdoor Adventure Therapy, a program designed to encourage community reconciliation. Another 300 were trained in a variety of income generating activities or agriculture with the intention of making the clubs self sufficient and perpetuating given the imminent end of funding for the project.
This year has also seen something new in the project. Following the IGA and agricultural training, the groups were asked to submit proposals to a competition committee that would then select the best ones for funding. The winning proposals are now being implemented by the groups themselves (see sidebar).
Speaking of the future of the project, Klaas states that while the future is not secure, there are proposals in the works for the EU, ADRA Spain, ADRA Sweden, a Swedish NGO and ADRA I, so there is hope that the infrastructure created so far will not go unused.
In summation of his impressions working with the project Klass states: “It’s been a pleasure for me working with the youth. As you see there are many problems, challenges (theft, etc) but when you see the enthusiasm the youth come with, and when you go to meet the groups and feel the energy and the potential in them, I feel we should exploit them. I regret not having time enough to visit all the youth groups. Working together they [the youth] can do a lot with very few materials, they only need the encouragement. It’s been a pleasure working with them.”
Klaas will be returning to Denmark Dec 18 to complete his Master’s thesis in Development and international Relations in Aalborg. The current project ends Dec 15.
ADRA Rwanda PR department 2008
