Melbourne follows up Games with major Youth conference

WYSTC – the World Youth Student Travel Conference will take place in Melbourne, Australia, 9-14 October 2006, and organisers are planning a special environmental project.

Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), a member of one of the conference’s two organising bodies, FIYTO – the Federation of International Youth Travel Organisations, will create a lasting environmental legacy for Australia to mark the Conference.

This Australian winter, CVA will plant 1,000 native trees at a designated site in Victoria – one to represent each person attending the conference. The trees will be planted in accordance with local environmental management plans, and will provide essential habitat and shelter for Australian birds and animals.

The World Youth Student Travel Conference, which is held in a different country each year, brings together more than 450 of the world’s leading private, national and official tourism organisations in the youth and student travel as well as international education sector.

“This project with CVA is exactly what our community is all about, and particularly what separates us from mainstream travel. For youth and student travellers journey not to be tourists but to learn, experience, share and contribute to the culture they are visiting. The organisations that serve young people and attend WYSTC like CVA, are all deeply concerned with building a better future by promoting cultural ex change and by caring for our environment, said WYSTC director Susan Goldstein.

CVA sends over 2,000 young international volunteers to Australia each year specifically to volunteer. Volunteers come from a range of countries, including Germany, France, Holland, Belgium and the UK, as well as Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and the USA. CVA teaches volunteers the skills necessary to make a real contribution to conservation – while enjoying a fantastic and very different trip to Australia!

“CVA is proud to be a member of FIYTO, and to partner with them and WYSTC in creating this wonderful project, “ CVA program director – Madeline Townsend.

WYSTC co-organiser ISTC – the International Student Travel Confederation recently also began a responsible travel campaign for young travellers reminding them to respect the environment and cultures they visit.“

By planting these trees representing each WYTSC attendee, the organisations that serve these young people are showing too that they care and are actively promoting responsible travel,” ISTC director David Jones

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