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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A 3rd APDYC was held in Miyazaki, Japan from 31st October – 5 November 2006.
1995
The Central Deaf Youth Camp, as organised by FYD at Palm Grove, Paraparaumu, May 1995.
1995
Coverage of the participants and activities enojoyed at the 1995 Northern Deaf Youth Camp in Lake Whakamaru, Waikato.
1996
Comprehensive footage of the participants and activities at the 1996 Summer Deaf Youth Camp in Otaki.
1995
FYD Leader Chris Blum explains how the programme works.
