Empowering Lutheran Educators: Inaugural Ambassador Bootcamp Ignites Inspiration

Adelaide, September 6-7, 2023 – In a ground-breaking initiative, Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS), recently hosted the inaugural Ambassador Bootcamp at the iconic Adelaide Oval. The purpose of the event was to empower Lutheran educators with the knowledge, skills, and inspiration needed to connect their students’ hearts with communities in need worldwide. This transformative event brought together 37 passionate teachers and principals from 16 Lutheran schools in the LESNW region representing over 7,000 students!

ALWS Ambassadors in Schools

The Ambassador Bootcamp was a beautiful mix of inspiration, learning and empowerment. Over two enriching days, participants delved deep into the world of humanitarian aid, exploring its purpose and quality through the lens of ALWS – ALWayS for the Forgotten. Throughout the conference, participants were invited to consider how they could be an ALWS Ambassador in their school community; connecting their students and school communities with the overseas communities that the Lutheran Church of Australia New Zealand (LCANZ) serve through ALWS.

Insights from the Frontlines

A highlight of the Ambassador Bootcamp was the opportunity to hear the inspirational journey of AFL superstar Aliir Aliir from a refugee in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, to an elite AFL athlete… a testament to resilience and determination.

Participants were also privileged to hear from Mary Obara, Program Manager of the LWF Kenya Somalia Program. Mary shared her experiences and insights from working on the frontlines of humanitarian aid, providing valuable context and real-world examples to further ignite the passion of the attendees.

Equipping Educators for Impact

The Ambassador Bootcamp didn’t just inspire; it equipped educators with practical skills and resources to become ALWS Ambassadors in their own school communities. Participants were introduced to the principles of service learning and a proven framework they could implement at school. They also learnt about good aid and effective fundraising, ensuring that participants were well-prepared to engage their students in raising awareness and support for humanitarian initiatives.

Feedback has been very positive with participants expressing excitement for the transformative potential of their new knowledge…

Thank you for all your hard work over the last two days. It has been amazing and it’s definitely been an answer to my prayers too with my teaching! Excited for what is to come.

Felicity Hampel, Teacher – Redeemer Lutheran Primary School

What an intense, inspirational and info packed few days. Thank you!

Simon Cooper, Chaplain – Immanuel College Novar Gardens

Thanks for everything you and the team presented this week. Really appreciated it! We’re looking forward to how ALWS and Navigator College can work together moving forward.

Jamie Fewster, Teacher – Navigator College.

Gratitude to Sponsors

The success of the Ambassador Bootcamp was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors. We’re grateful for the partnership of our Gold Sponsors LESNW and LLL Australia and their investment in growing the capacity of Lutheran educators. We’re also grateful for the valuable support of our Bronze Sponsor RTG… the trusted ICT experts for Lutheran schools across the country.

A Vision for the Future

The success of the inaugural Ambassador Bootcamp has encouraged us to explore hosting this conference annually, rotating locations through the three Lutheran schooling regions in Australia. We are also excited to be exploring the possibility of a one-day student Ambassador Bootcamp for the LESNW region in late 2024.  

Our hope is that this inaugural Ambassador Bootcamp can have a lasting impact for participants, the students and school communities they serve AND the communities in need that our church serves overseas through ALWS.