Updates 
February 2009
Leading by example
Jean-Pierre Ferguson, 21, ambassador for Youth A.I.D, meets the Prime Minister.
Read the article.
22nd August 2008
Three Young people from South London on their way to the Beijing Para Olympics
Three young volunteers from South London will be playing their part to ensure the smooth running of the 2008 Para Olympics. Leila Donegan, 21, from New Cross, Ashanti Bentil-Dhue, 19, from Catford and Elizabeth D'sa, 23, from Plumstead are all volunteers with the YV@Lewisham project, part of the government's V programme, based at Youth AID Lewisham. They have been selected from hundreds of young people across the country to travel to China as part of a British Council funded scheme to provide voluntary support to the China Disabled Persons Federation in hosting athletes from across the world competing in the 2008 Para-Olympics.
Leila, one of the volunteers says:
"I am very excited about going, it will be an opportunity to experience a completely different culture. I know it will be a challenge, especially overcoming the language barrier, but I hope to return having learnt some Chinese, and having the satisfaction of playing a part in making the Para Olympics a success"
Exciting volunteering opportunities are one of the special features of being a volunteer at Youth A.I.D, an organisation which has been providing services for young people in Lewisham for 35 years. The project has provided volunteering placements for young people in Camp America, Egypt, Albania YHA , and around the UK.
Marcus Senior, YV@Lewisham Staff, explains that "the sending of young people to the Beijing Olympics is part of Youth A.I.D's strategy in preparing for the 2012 London Olympics, these young people will serve as role models and mentors to the next generation of young volunteers".
Maria Dalrymple, Manager of Youth A.I.D Lewisham, stated that; "this is an important example of ambitious and dynamic young people making a positive contribution to their community, and indeed the world".
My Trip to Albania
Once I was asked to represent the British Council in a youth conference, which was being held in Albania to give a presentation to our counterparts about our campaign: "What's really good" and were we are in the project.
I was really nervous but at the same time excited, I did not know what my role would be in this mission and how our time was going to be managed.
Once I confirmed that I was going, I had even more thoughts on what was going to happen next. Two days before our journey, me and the rest of the team met up for a drink and we were given a brief about the two-day event. That really put my mind at ease for the trip.
From the moment we arrived in Albania we were welcomed by members of the British Council. They were very helpful and open to conversation. (They spoke good English).
Our time was planed out and well organised down to the very last detail. In our only real day in the country we were taken to the national museum, were we were taught about the history of the country, people of the land and how the country is moving forward. We were taken to a nice restaurant, were we ate an Albanian meal. Following the meal we got down to business, we did what we came to do, be a part of the conference and give our presentation.
My role in the presentation was to outline the aims of our project and to support my team mates. We gave a great presentation, which went down really well with the audience. The audience contained students from the local university, members of the British Council, the vice-Mayor and the local press.
Finally we were taken to the very best restaurant in the country, which was opened by G.W. Bush's wife. The restaurant was of five-star standard and we had a traditional Albanian meal.
This experience is very valuable to me, when it comes to attaining my goals for the future. I have gained a great deal of confidence from this trip that I hope I can share it with my peers.
Thank you Youth A.I.D. for all your help. Peace.
Anthony Goffe
