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WAIT Year of Service Program
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WAIT is a project of the Washington AIDS International Foundation, which was initated in 2001 by Dr. Chang Shik Yang. WAIT was initiated by Co-Director Kate Tsubata along with a group of parents and teens in the spring of 2002 as a unique way to reach youth with AIDS prevention information. From one team in Washington DC with 12 youth, WAIT has spread out, replicating itself to several new states and nations each year, at present to 15 nations and 8 states.
WAIT teams perform in schools, youth centers, health organizations and community events, in local areas, and internationally. WAIT teams perform at several hundred events each year, more than 2,000 times since our beginning. In 2009, WAIT has active teams in 8 states and 15 nations.
WAIT teaches a factual and scientific presentation which not only shows that abstinence and life partnership are the only realistic ways to stop the AIDS plague, but which also encourages the audience to become part of the fight by using their own talents to give the message to others. Internally, WAIT applies principles of parent/child unity, positive thinking and positive words about self and others, and that it is the love we develop through serving others that will radiate out in the presentations to move the hearts of those we meet.
WAIT is not a faith-based organization, so people of all faiths do participate. However, WAIT members do pray in their own faith tradition, before each activity, and to conclude and offer each thing as well. WAIT does not seek to invite people into one religious teaching, but to act upon the clear teachings of all faiths-that living a life of deliberate purity before marriage and faithful sexuality in marriage is vital to becoming a genuine and contributing person.
The WAIT trainer program will give the participants an amazing experience of working with youth and parents, developing talents and skills as a means of reaching out, learning to set goals and accomplish them, in order to spread the lifesaving message.
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Eligible candidates will begin with an intensive training with the national team. Then, they will begin rotations to the state teams, spending several weeks or a month in each state, assisting the teams and learning from each one. Their work will include reaching out to schools, churches, public agencies, setting up presentations and activities, facilitating practices, learning and teaching the AIDS powerpoints , and carrying out communications and correspondence with the HQ and the other teams.
There will be three rotations (approximately) and then the trainers will return to D.C. for additional training for preparation to work in their home area. The fourth rotation will be with their home team, or in their home state. There they will work with their own parents and family, and with the youth in their own community, to form a WAIT team, and to energize an existing one. The key element is developing new ways for families to interact creatively to serve the larger community.
After the Home rotation, the trainers will return to D.C. At this point, they will learn how to start a new team in a new state. They will be working together with families or organizations in the local area to prepare for the trainings, performances, lodging, food, transportation and other issues. They will become proficient in teaching all aspects of WAIT. They will go to the new state, spending a week or two to get the team going. In this way, several new states can be reached in a fairly short time. They will be responsible for keeping up the communications with the states they pioneer.
After becoming proficient in starting new teams, the WAIT trainers will be able to move into international training work. They will be trained in D.C again. They will be choosing the nations they wish to reach, and will be corresponding with local families or organizations to set up the training activities. They will research costs, such as plane fare, food, transportation, and equipment rental, etc. They will learn how to apply for grants to cover their costs, and/or to cover these through in-kind services, etc. They will also learn the culture, faiths, language basics, and unique circumstances of their destination countries. They will go to the country, perform and set up the team, and will teach the local groups how to carry on a WAIT movement. Upon their return, they will continue to correspond with the team, and to report on various new developments.
The WAIT trainers will be in daily communication with parents either by email, phone or journaling and letters (if in a location where internet is not available.) Parents and youth are urged to make various conditions of spiritual readings together, prayer, and reporting about internal and external matters. The aim is for the growth to be not only an individual matter, but a family-wide experience.
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Conditions to be considered for the program: | BACK TO TOP
To be eligible to become a WAIT trainer, a person must already be capable of putting others first. They must have a true commitment to saving lives. They must be serious about living a lifestyle of non-dating and abstinence until lifetime, faithful marriage. They must be able to work with a wide variety of people and circumstances. They must be in good health. External performing arts skills are helpful, but not a condition of participation. Rather, each person's unique talents will be accentuated in order to help bring out the overall message.
As envisioned, the WAIT trainer program will include working in several existing state teams, working in one's home state to help a local team begin or develop, and then working to initiate new teams in other states and other countries. It will also include fundraising to for costs of living, travel and outreach. Trainers will teach HIV/AIDS powerpoint lectures, teach skit and game show content, and will train others in the internal attitude of WAIT.
Each Trainer will also be encouraged to work on different skills, which can provide ways to expand the message, such as web design, video, music production, filmmaking, and other cultural products.
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Logistics: | BACK TO TOP
Trainers will stay with local WAIT families, (probably sleeping bag accommodations) and will contribute through finding grants for costs of living. Medical insurance or costs or airfare to and from home should be paid by the family, except for the home "rotation" airfare. Trainers will find grants for the monies to do the travel and the outreach work. All activities will be undertaken with adult supervision.
Trainers will be sent in teams of 3, and will be guided, monitored and supported by adult WAIT leaders. Trainers must be scrupulous in reporting and in working closely with all adults-including their own families.
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Conditions for exclusion: | BACK TO TOP
Participants will be asked to leave the program if they engage in any destructive or unprincipled behavior, or if they are unable to work with the WAIT system and methods. (This means serious things.)
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General schedule: (May be modified) | BACK TO TOP
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July: Training, til mid-August (parents are welcome to participate in all trainings, activities)
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August-Sept.: Rotation 1
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Sept,-Oct: Rotation 2
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Oct-Nov.: Rotation 3
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Late November: Prep for home rotation in DC
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Dec.-January: Home state rotation
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Late January: DC training for new WAIT team initiation
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February: New team rotation 1
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March: New team rotation 2
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April: Back to D.C. for International level training & preparation
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May: International outreach 1
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June: Return, prepare for new nation
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July: International outreach 2, end year of service
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Projected Impact: | BACK TO TOP
The goal of this program is to enable the participant to become a world changer, an owner of his or her own faith, and someone with multiple tools and skills to be able to affect and transform any circumstances and surroundings. In addition, the participant should be growing in relation to his or her own family, and preparing and embarking on the steps towards committing to faithful spousal partnership and future parenthood, as an extension of his internal character development.
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Application Process: | BACK TO TOP
Those who wish to apply to participate should send a letter, signed by both the parents and the youth candidate. The letter should state why the family feels that the WAIT trainer option is desirable, and should describe the candidate's background, any unique characteristics or dreams and goals they have, special skills (including languages, abilities, past experiences, or family history) which may be helpful in being a WAIT trainer.
We would like this to be as full and descriptive as possible, and to give us a thorough idea of the person's character and thinking. You may want to send photos, videos, or additional materials that help to present a complete picture. If you have already been trained or are actively involved with any WAIT team, please describe your involvement, especially any responsibilities or outreach that you have undertaken.
References can be sent from teachers, coaches, mentors, or others who can attest to the character or accomplishments of the individual. If already an active WAIT member, the candidate should ask the team leader to write an assessment and recommendation for participation.
One note of caution: WAIT is not a "second choice" for those who really wish to do another form of public service. We want only those who feel that this is right for them, as their first choice. Please do the discussion, prayer and reflection necessary now to discover if this is the option that would best fit your personal and family circumstances, rather than applying to three or four programs and then seeing which will accept you. Use this as the first step in taking responsibility and ownership of your own life and co-creatorship.
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Summary: | BACK TO TOP
We believe that this will be an outstanding preparation for those who really see the need to stop AIDS and to empower youth and families. We also know that it reflects extremely well on educational and career applications, and have had several people get impressive awards and scholarships due to their participation. Also, the opportunities to travel, gain real-life knowledge and skills, and to become an educator in one of the most vital areas facing our world today are unparalleled, we believe, in any other program. However, we don't want these to be the motivations for participation, rather, the auxiliary benefits of investing oneself totally in a valuable enterprise.
WAIT YOS application (.pdf - 63kb)
Should you believe this is a viable option for an eligible young person, please send your letter of introduction to:
Kate Tsubata
WAIT
7752 Decatur Road,
Hyattsville, MD 20784
Email: katetsubata@yahoo.com |
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