For me, the Elcho Island Cultural Exchange is an opportunity of a lifetime. I am so lucky to be a part of an eye-opening, life-changing experience with my class mates.

I chose the Elcho Island trip because I felt that the morals consisting in the trip not only connected to me, as an Australian teenager, but as maturing young adult. I’m really excited to communicate and connect to other kids around my age and to have a real insight of who they are and what they do. This trip will hopefully spark future visits to a range of different communities around Australia.

At our '4 weeks to go' mark, we have planned activities, choreographed a dance, had a guest speaker and starting to finalise things we need for activities.

Ruby Steinberg J

Hi, my name is Emily Klooger; I am a Mount Scopus year, 9 student. I have chosen to go on the Elcho Island cultural exchange because I would like to make a connection with other Australian children outside of my community. I am overly excited to meet and spend time with the Indigenous community of Elcho Island. It was highly beneficial when Sam Rotberge came to talk to us and informed us on what to expect. I cannot wait to go on this life changing trip and to experience Elcho Island through my own eyes.

Hi my Name is Romy Fischbein. Elcho Island is more than just a trip for me, it’s an experience. The interest of Australian culture has always been with me in my journey through school. Once I was presented with the choice of going to Elcho Island I felt a spiritual connection and couldn’t resist applying. The choice to depart to Elcho Island has definitely paid off. From all the informing meetings and fun we’ve had so far I can’t wait for the actual trip to begin. I am looking forward to this once in a lifetime opportunity and, I hope this trip will be eye opening and give my life a brand new meaning. I can’t wait to share my culture with new people.

Natalie Spivak

I chose this particular cultural exchange to Elcho Island because I hope to be able to make a difference to someone else’s life and learn about them. I am really excited to meet new people and run activities . I know this is an experience I can’t have anywhere else and I can’t wait to go.

Hey everyone!

I am incredibly happy that I have been accepted into the Elcho Island Cultural Exchange Program. I am so excited to go and meet everyone there and learn about a different culture. I know it will be a once in a lifetime experience. To anyone on Elcho Island who might read this Hi, and I can’t wait to meet you all! I have no idea what to expect, but I know I will enjoy it immensely.

Natasha Connors

Ronit Better

I am really excited with the leading up to Elcho Island. I chose Elcho Island because I thought that it would be really cool to meet and immerse ourselves in the culture of the people living in Elcho Island nd the way that they live. I felt that it would be a great experience to interact with people of a different culture. We have had a lot of meetings in the lead up where we discuss what activities to do, update the itinerary and bond with each other.

I am so excited for the upcoming trip to Elcho Island. I chose this program because I thought it would give me a good insight to a new culture. I am excited to experience a new way of living and seeing life. It is a once in a life time experience that could never be forgotten. The previous year of Elcho Island have raved about how good and touching to the heart this experience was. I am not quite sure what to expect in terms of the type of people I am going to meet but am also excited to bonding with the people of Elcho Island and especially the children there.
Aria Klein

Emma Freilich
I guess I chose Elcho Island Cultural Exchange not because I will get time off school but for a deeper and more meaningful education about the culture and to learn about them personally and to overcome those stereotypes about them. I’m really excited about running the activities with the kids because I know from experience that being part of an activity is really fun and just puts a smile on everyone’s day! J

My name is Lyndon Wise and I’m going to Elcho Island with some of my friends in year 9 at Mount Scopus to do a cultural exchange with some aboriginal people. I’m really excited to get to know the people of Elcho Island and just have fun with them! We have already pre-organised some activities do with them such as sport, drama cooking and chilling.

My name is Jordan Davis and I’m looking forward to going to Elcho Island this year.

I chose to go on this trip because it interests me. I want to see how other communities live their lives, compared to us. I am looking forward to meeting the kids there, and making close relationships with them. I think it will be an eye opener to see how different they live compared to us.

My name is Dakota Lipton and I am a student in 9B at Scopus who originally always wanted to go to Cambodia, but when I saw the video on Elcho Island and what the Elcho island program involved, I had second thoughts. I wanted to go on the Elcho island program because I want to learn about aboriginal people and I want to experience something different and I thought that Elcho Island can give me this experience. I felt it was worth going to Elcho Island rather than not go and continue my everyday life because of that reason. We have done weeks of preparations in lunch times and I can’t wait to go!

Pre- trip

Hi everyone,

My name is Benjamin Weinmann from year 9, Mount Scopus Memorial College and I will be going on the Elcho Island cultural exchange program in 2012. I am very excited to be part of this trip and not sure what to expect when I get to the island. I’m looking forward to bonding with the Aboriginal people and the children and will be participating in many activities with them such as sports, dance and art. This will be a fantastic experience to learn more about different cultures and the way others live. It will be an eye opener!