The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth camp (APDYC) was held from 12-19 January 2002 at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre in Turangi. Altogether, there were 43 Deaf youths from 12 countries, 15 youth leaders, 10 interpreters and a couple of guest speakers present.
The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth camp
2001. Sara Pivac, the 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth Camp Coordinator, is presenting a financial report at one of DEAFinitely Youth Group’s planning meetings held at Deaf Association of New Zealand’s meeting room in Avondale.
November 2001. Leadership training workshop for camp leaders at Deaf Association of New Zealand’s community room.
New Zealand won the bid to host the 2nd APDYC in November 2000 and an intense period of fundraising started with the creation of the DEAFinitely Youth Group.
Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand
22 September 2001, Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand at Alexandra Park Function Centre. Nirvana Graham (2nd runner up), Sara Pivac (1st runner up), Ursula Becroft (Miss Deaf NZ), Amie Hewitt (Miss World NZ), Darryl Alexander (Mr Deaf NZ), Daniel Harborne (1st runner up), Patrick Thompson (2nd runner up).
The APDYC organising committee devoted a year of their life to organising this camp. They fundraised approximately $80,000 in 6 months to make the camp a reality. One major fundraising event was the 007 Miss and Mr Deaf New Zealand, which was organised in 5 weeks and raised $7,000 towards the camp costs.
APDYC2 – Opening eyes and minds
11 January 2002. The 2nd Asia Pacific Deaf Youth Camp open welcome night at Auckland Deaf Society, the night before the camp begins.
18 January 2002, Turangi. Participants dressing up to represent their own countries.
Youths participated in outdoor activities and workshops such as International Sign language, culture, and the youths gave presentations and held discussions on what Deaf life was like in their own countries. This was a huge and effective eye-opener for many Deaf youths.
Building bridges across the Pacific
January 2003, Turangi, New Zealand. Sponsorship enabled Deaf youths from the Pacific Islands to attend the camp. L-R: Alex Dunn (Fiji), Moana Tuahiva (French Polynesia), Tuilana Waibatu (Fiji), Sara Pivac (New Zealand), Claire Rice (French Polynesia), Kapisi Kapisi (Samoa), Leona (Fiji). Front: Pouono (Samoa), Pesamino Vaihola (Fiji).
One of the biggest achievements of the 2nd APDYC was bringing 9 deaf youth from Fiji, Samoa and French Polynesia due to receiving a $16,000 grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Staff from Air New Zealand Tahiti assisted with communication between the DEAFinitely Youth Group and a Tahitian association of the Deaf to pick two suitable Deaf youth from Tahiti to attend the camp.
The 3rd APDYC was held in Miyazaki, Japan from 31st October – 5 November 2006.
Note: This page was last updated 2018. Contributions are welcomed.
