The Rotary Tasmania Windeward Bound Youth Leadership Challenge connects Tasmanian youth from refugee and non-refugee backgrounds for the voyage of a lifetime.
Each December for the past 14 years, the beautiful tall ship STV Windeward Bound has sailed away from Waterman’s Dock in Hobart, commanded by Captain Sarah Parry.
On board are 20 sail trainees aged from 15 to 18, sponsored by Rotary clubs. This year’s new Tasmanians came from Afghanistan, South Korea, Vietnam and Ukraine.
“The idea is to go to sea for 10 days and get them all working together, so that they get to know each other and do a bit of cross-cultural mixing. It gives them an opportunity to form a bit of a network of their own, outside of their normal circles,” says Captain Sarah Parry.
“It’s an amazingly, life-changing experience. The young Tasmanian kids on board get to know the new Australian kids very well, and vice versa.”
Over the course of their time at sea, the teenagers learn seamanship, teamwork, confidence and leadership.
The voyage starts and finishes in Hobart, but where it goes depends on the wind and the weather.
