Wanted: Teens looking for adventure

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Want to really experience the "wild life". Well, if you have what it takes, the opportunity to spend your school vacation doing something worthwhile through a wilderness experiences program may be yours.

Cathay Pacific is extending an invitation to Indonesians aged 15 years to 18 years to participate in an ecological course, The International Wilderness Experience Program, from July 21 to Aug. 1 in South Africa.

The country has several nature reserves containing a wide variety of flora and fauna, including more than 80 species of mammals and 230 species of birds. Participating students from Asian countries as well as South Africa will be guided by a team of highly qualified educational officers to experience nature through hikes, camping trips and wildlife observation.

They will also share each other's cultural heritage through wedding role-play, group discussion and traditional songs and dances.

The good part is that the expenses -- from the cost of air tickets, course fees, accommodation, meals and ground transport in South Africa -- are taken care of for the successful applicants by the Hong Kong-based airline.

In the past, an average of two to three students from Indonesia have participated in the program.

"This is one of our commitments to developing youth potential, and we hope they can learn something so they can give something back to their communities in the future," said Ida Sylviana Bekti, the airline's assistant manager of marketing and passenger sales.

Application forms can be downloaded from http://downloads.cathaypacific.com/press/cxwildernessform.pdf or collected at the 26th floor, The Jakarta Stock Exchange, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53, the Promenade Shopping Arcade, Hyatt Regency, Jl. Basuki Rachmat 106-128, Surabaya or 2nd floor, Wisthi Sabha Building, Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar.