The First Light Exchange Programme has been established by Clan Cameron New Zealand to:

* Sponsor a youth exchange between Clan Cameron Association of New Zealand and Clan Cameron in Scotland.

* Develop and maintain communication links between Clan Cameron Association of New Zealand and Clan Cameron in Scotland.

* Encourage cultural links between Clan Cameron Association of New Zealand and Clan Cameron in Scotland continue into the twenty-first
century.

* Encourage the professional and personal development of young Clan Cameron members of New Zealand and Scotland.

* Ensure that Clan Cameron Association of New Zealand is enhanced from the development of such a programme.
 

- Sir Donald Cameron of Lochiel wrote, " I think it is a very interesting idea to see if there can be some sort of exchange programme of young Camerons between Lochaber and New Zealand".

Donations to:

Heather Cameron

2/50 Titirangi Road

New Lynn

Auckland 0600

Ph: (9) 826 3454)

How the exchange programme works.

The exchange is for a period of three months each year with the successful New Zealand applicant leaving for Scotland usually between June and September and a return visit by the successful Scottish applicant.

The age of applicants should be 18-28 years at the time of departure.

In recognition of the long distances involved and the expense in travel, the exchange members would be permitted to extend their travels privately for 3 months but would be expected to return to their home within 6 months of departure. In this time, we would ask that the applicants participate in three equal parts:

* Professional development: exploring an area of relevance and interest to their careers.

* Personal development: researching areas of personal interest, for example sports, piping, arts, flora and fauna, cooking, weaving, genealogy, history.

* Clan Cameron development: undertaking a project of their design that assists Clan Cameron.

Applicants to the exchange would be expected to present details in each of these categories as to how they would spend their time on each part.

Click here for Application Information.

Branches of Clan Cameron will host the Scottish Exchange participants in New Zealand.

There are eight Branches of Clan Cameron in the North and South Islands. According to their programme, they would most likely be based in one or two areas, but would travel around New Zealand visiting Branches.

New Zealand is a country of islands in the South Pacific. It has five major urban areas, and has an agricultural based economy on the two main islands.

The population is three and half million people, living in an area roughly the same as the United Kingdom.
Eighty five percent of the population lives in the major urban centres. The remaining population is spread throughout the country. New Zealand is renowned for its agricultural products, magnificent scenery, adventure tourism and sporting achievements.

New Zealand has many cultural and sporting opportunities but no shinty teams! There are two main languages spoken - English and Maori. There are many crafts, highly developed and international respected - woodcarving, pottery, spinning, weaving.

Music, especially singing, of a wide variety from classical to modern is very active. The blended sound of Maori, Celtic and European music is unique. Tramping, mountaineering, bushcraft, fishing, hunting, sailing, are world class. The Outward Bound school is the most physical in the world.

In the middle of the last century, many thousands of Highlanders emigrated to New Zealand and were prominent in agriculture, politics, religion, commerce, education and sport. Today, there is strong participation in piping and Highland dancing, and Highland Games are held throughout the country.

The exchange participant could be offered opportunities for experience in their area of vocational interest, either in the city or the country. This will be individually developed with the successful applicant.

Click here for Application Information.

Lochaber is a place of variety. A countryside of high mountains (Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Britain) and flat moors, inland lochs and sea lochs, barren hills and green fringes.

There is modern industry (an aluminum factory and a paper mill) and traditional crafts, new villages and old ruins of castles and crofts. Some Camerons are still there but they have been joined by a wide variety of other people - from other parts of the Highlands, from the South of Scotland, England and from overseas.

There is skiing, climbing, fishing and other outdoor activities, but also piping, fiddling, singing and other music.

Young Camerons from New Zealand can search for their history - where there grandparents and great grandparents lived before coming to New Zealand, and what Lochaber was like at that time. But they can also investigate what it is today, how do young people live, what are they learning and what are their aspirations.

It will be interesting to compare the New Zealand culture with that in Lochaber. There will also be the opportunity to take part in these activities, so that the young New Zealanders can develop new skills and find new knowledge. Lochaber is only a small part of the West Highlands, and traveling in the Highlands and Islands, they can appreciate the beautiful scenery and see how other parts are living and developing.

There are many other aspects of Scotland - Highland Games, the Edinburgh Festival, the Mod, the Piping Competitions, which will give new experiences to young New Zealanders.
 
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