This page is for ruMAD? Youth Ambassadors and gives
some ideas on how to approach the role.

What is an ambassador?
Benefits of being an ambassador
How to be an ambassador
Making a presentation
Resources & contacts
Youth Ambassador action plan

What is an ambassador?

If you look up the definition of ‘ambassador’ in the dictionary you’ll find something along the lines of:

“A minister of the highest rank sent to a foreign court to represent his/her country. An official messenger and representative.”

So you could consider yourself to be ministers of the highest rank representing young people and the ruMAD? program to other schools!

The Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning is committed to supporting young people in making a difference in the wider community and seeing themselves as having a “loud voice” for making a change.

As a MAD Ambassador you will be encouraging students from your own school and other schools to take on making a difference through the ruMAD? Program. From sharing your stories and your ideas you’ll have the opportunity to inspire others and cause a “ripple effect” of kids seeing that they can make the world a better place.

Benefits of being an ambassador

There are many benefits in being an Ambassador – for you, your school and the world:

• Sharing your projects means that they become bigger and inspire other people;
• The more you talk in public the less scary it becomes and the more confident you become;
• Your school becomes better known and you and everyone else feels proud about going there; and
• The more young people who run MAD activities and make a difference, the more the world will become what YOU want.

How to be an ambassador

1. What’s involved?
   Early next year, arrange with your teacher to present your MAD activity to two schools in your area (or classes at your school).
   
   Download this Action Plan to help you do this.
    
2. What is there to do?
   
   • You have already prepared a presentation for the Youth Action Conference. This will need to be adapted for presentation to students of a similar age to you.
   • In early Term 1 next year, review the presentation and make sure that it sounds interesting!
   • Approach the relevant people (principal, teachers, SRC members) of the two schools/classes and ask if you could make a presentation to them about making a difference.
   • Make the presentation.
   • Inform the ruMAD? School Coordinator via email (see below) of how the presentation went.
      
3. What support will you have?
   
   • The ruMAD? Coordinator is contactable by phone: 6223 1025 or via email: rumad@afairerworld.org
   • Your teacher or principal are a great resource for helping you contact other schools.
      
4. What can your school do?
   
   • Set up visits to the other schools/classes.
   • Promote the idea of making a difference within your school.
   • Integrate MAD activities into other classes.
      
5. Example outline of a presentation about ruMAD?
   
   • Introduce yourselves and your school.
   • Say a little about the ruMAD? Program (who runs it … what it’s about).
   • Share your Vision Statement.
   • Share what happened (MAD Project / MAD Day activities).
   • Share what difference it made to you and to the people involved in the project (what did you get out of being involved?).
   • Invite the students to ask questions.
   • Ask the school if they would be interested in participating this year.

Making a presentation

It is a normal reaction to be anxious or nervous about presenting in front of a group of people – particularly when it is in front of lots of people! Giving an effective and interesting presentation requires you to prepare and practise. Just like when you play sport, the more you prepare and practise, the more skilled you become.

There are three parts to a talk.

1. Introduction
   
In the introduction you introduce yourself to your audience and briefly explain what you will be talking about. Perhaps explain the ways that you think the topic may be relevant to the audience. Finally, give the audience any background information they need to understand the rest of the talk.
 
2. Main Body of the Talk

   Use the 2 – 3 main highlights you identified above to make up the body of the talk. Ensure that you stick to your topic and maintain the audience’s interest. A number of techniques help with this. One way is to use visual aids. Photographs, charts, objects and power point slides are really great ways of demonstrating what you are saying. However, some rules about using visual aids include; make sure they are relevant to the topic, talk to the audience not the visual, make sure everyone can see the visual aid, and don’t overdo on the aids – one or two is plenty for a short talk.

3. Conclusion
   

   This provides the final impression for your audience. Make sure you finish strongly rather than fade away. Finish with making your point about the whole topic and then thank people for listening.

In your 4 - 5 minute talk to schools it is better to focus on talking about a few points in detail rather than trying to get through lots of information. For your presentation, select two or three highlights and provide descriptions or stories to illustrate these highlights to everyone.

Eg. Topic: Depression at schools

Point	Illustrate by
Depression is a problem in schools	Statistics of young people on anti-depressant medication
We made a difference	Share about the activities you created and stories about the impact of them on the community
ruMAD? made a difference for us	Stories about the difference that creating and running the project made on you.

Make sure you go through the points in logical order and, most importantly, have fun!  If you are enjoying yourself, so will your audience.

Practising and Presenting your Talk

Once you have developed a plan for your talk, prepare some prompt notes to use during the presentation. DON’T write out your talk word for word because you may be tempted to read it. Instead create your talk on a series of small cards with perhaps each card covering each part of the talk as outlined above. Mark on your cards when to use each visual aid. Then practise your presentation in front of a mirror or with friends. As you practise make sure that you speak clearly and loudly. Look at your audience. Smile – look like you are enjoying yourself. Don’t jiggle or fiddle.  Finally, when you get there on the day … HAVE FUN!


Resources & contacts

Speech Writing and Public Speaking

A Conference of Mind and Mouth: The Ultimate Public Speaking Resource Guide

Effective Presentations

Tips for Effective PowerPoint Presentations

The ruMAD? pages on the TCGL website have information about the program

 

Need information or help? Contact:
Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning
4 Battery Square, Battery Point, Tasmania, 7004
Ph 03 6223 1025 or 0400 824 261
Email rumad@afairerworld.org

Learn more about the Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning