What is it?
The EnergyAustralia Red Cross Youth Challenge invites young people, teachers and members of the community to take the challenge by finding a project that helps your community.

Young people can learn more about their local community and its needs, while gaining skills in project management, problem solving, research and communication. Why not throw your energy into a Youth Challenge project? You could win some great prizes in the process.

• Clean up campaign at a local park, beach, waterway
• Paint/repair a community centre
• Plant a community garden
• Read to sick children in hospital
• Organise a bike safety awareness day
• Establish a mentoring program for students at the local primary school
• Hold a fundraiser for a Red Cross
• Develop a theatre group to perform at retirement villages, hospitals, community    functions
• Host a blood donation drive

Why do it?
Taking part in the Youth Challenge will help you develop:

• Employability skills
  
• Leadership skills
  
• Research skills
  
• Mentoring skills
  
• Project management skills
  
• Community networking skills
  
• Links with the school curriculum
  
• Experience working with the largest humanitarian organisation in the world
  
• Recognition through the annual awards ceremony and media coverage

How do I get started?

• Complete the 2008 online registration from – registration is free!
• Receive your information package and resource kit; read through the information
• Hold your first meeting for students and mentor to brainstorm ideas and plan  project details – when will the project commence, what tasks need to be done, what funding is needed
• Create a project plan with clear goals and tasks
• Let Red Cross know your plans and provide updates with quarterly progress reports

Funding
The Youth Challenge Grants Scheme provides funding for projects working in innovative ways to give something back to their community, by offering eight $200 grants in the first and second terms of the school year. Participating schools and youth groups can even apply for funding twice a year whether it is for the same or different project.

Who can apply?

• Applicants living in NSW, between the ages of 12-18 years undertaking fulltime studies or who are involved in a youth organisation.
  
• Groups/individuals must have completed a 2008 Youth Challenge registration form and have had their project approved by the Australian Red Cross.

How do you apply?

• Applicants are able to use any form of communication to present their application, such as a short film, web page, audio file, written document or presentation (remember to include details of your project ie project name and aim, number of participants, expected costs and timeframe etc)
  
• Before sending in an application for funding the application needs to be approved by the mentor of your program and/or the school principal.
• The applications will be judged by a panel of three Australian Red Cross representatives.
• Successful applicants will be notified by telephone and unsuccessful applicants notified by mail.

• There will be two rounds of grants on offer:
  
• Round I – Applications close 5pm, Friday 4 April 2008
• Round 2 – Applications close 5pm, Friday 27 June 2008