ED&EM: Outward Bound and ED&EM Collaboration

Outward Bound and ED&EM have recently been collaborating to help some South Auckland students. You may have heard about Outward Bound, a personal development organisation offering various courses to support youth as they look beyond school. The courses aren’t just focused on employment, but also study and home life, as they grow skills and attributes like communication, ethics, teamwork, problem solving and decision making.

They are a registered charity that use outdoor challenge and adventure as a way to help shape the lives of students and adults. Their teen courses focus on various aspects, ranging from 8 days to a 21 day course. Excursions can run from kayaking, ropes courses, camping and sea swimming, all while discovering more about yourself and how you learn to cope with various, unknown situations.

Outward Bound had funding specifically targeted for South Auckland schools and approached the Chamber’s ED&EM team to see if we could assist them select possible students. Our team organised several discussion sessions with multiple schools where students had a chance to ask questions and get a feel for the programme they were applying for. This also gave Outward Bound a chance to interact with the candidates who were looking to join a new Whakatipu course intake. This course is valued at $3496 per student for the full 8-day course leaving from Picton.

Outward Bound awarded 14 full scholarships to students from Manurewa High, Mangere College, De la Salle College, Pukekohe High and Waiku College. A huge congratulations to all the students who managed to win a placement for the June intake.

The Chamber’s ED&EM offered to include additional support beyond these scholarships. This will include a further 6 months of ongoing mentoring and support after they return from camp by our two South Connectors. We’ll help these students apply their Outward Bound learning at home and as they prepare for further education or employment. This will be an amazing opportunity making a real impact in these students’ lives.

ED&EM Connector Brianna and Outward Bound’s Krish interviewing potential students

Our team would like to thank Outward Bound for involving the Auckland Business Chamber and Education to Employment (ED&EM) in helping them support these Auckland students. We look forward to working with them more in the future. Check out our events page to see other activities we’ve been doing.