Academy
Live Different Academy is about you taking your passion to learn and to change the world and cramming it all into a 9 month experience that will challenge and shape you like nothing else. Find out what all the buzz is about and choose for yourself. We hope to have you join us!
- August 19th - Live Different housing is open for students' arrival.
- August 20th - General Orientation starts at 10am.
- August 21st - September 3rd - Leadership training and Road team or Mexico orientation. (Depending on what team you are on)
- September 4th - December 14th - First Semester - half team touring across Canada with Think Day and other half in Mexico.
- December 15th - Christmas break begins.
- January 13th - Live Different Housing re-opens for second semester.
- January 14th - 27th Road team or Mexico orientation. (Depending on what team you are on)
- January 28th - June 3rd - Second Semester - half touring across Canada with our road teams and the other half in Mexico.
- June 4th - Grad Ceremony.
- June 5th - Fly or Drive Home.
- All accommodations in Hamilton, on the Canadian tour, and in Mexico.
- International Social Justice course texts and materials.
- Meals on the Canadian tours and meals in Mexico.
- Internet connections in Hamilton and Mexico.
- Laundry in Hamilton and Mexico.
- Travel to and from Hamilton at the beginning/end of the year and at Christmas time.
- Student's meals while they are in Hamilton. Each student must personally budget to pay for a maximum 8 weeks worth of meals throughout the semester in Canada. If the tour schedule demands that the students are in Hamilton beyond 8 weeks, Absolute will provide them with a grocery allowance.
- Travel medical insurance is required for the amount of time spent outside of Canada.
- A passport is a personal expense and a required travel document that the students must have before beginning the program.
Live Different exists to empower youth to bring positive change by being changed themselves. This happens when we live our lives with purpose. Our Academy Program consists of leadership development classes, a social justice course and personal growth experiences. All of these aspects are focused on helping you to see the part you play in changing and shaping the global future, starting with your own.
Through eight months of life coaching, leadership training, and practical hands-on experience, you will begin to understand and develop your incredible potential through a program that is both transformational and relevant.
Our school year is divided into two semesters. One semester is spent touring across Canada participating in Live Different's Presentations and the other semester is spent living, studying and working in the community of Vicente Guerrero, Baja California, Mexico.
During your time touring in high schools across Canada, you will be equipped with public speaking and basic performance and technical skills, as well as be presented with many unique opportunities to influence lives and build relationships. You will also have other course requirements such as written assignments and presentation opportunities.
During your time in Mexico, you will be studying a valuable Social Justice Curriculum, helping to give leadership to our Hero Holiday humanitarian trips, teaching English, and even completing a seven day experience living in your own 'shack' and working with the local community. All of this combines for an incredible experiential learning opportunity!
Our Staff
Charles Roberts - Program Director
Mandy Rousseau - Program Administrator
Rose Friesen - Academy Facilitator in Mexico
Follow this link for staff bio's.
*Dates subject to change
2012 - Term 1
2013 - Term 2
The cost for the year is $8,000.00 CAD.
Live Different is committed to the potential of this generation, and because of this, we are also currently offering a $500.00 bursary (click to download) to successful applicants who are in need of financial assistance.
This price includes:
The price does not include:
How To Apply
1) Fill out and mail in the application. (click here to download)
2) Fill out and mail in the consent package. (click here to download)
***The payment / donation form must accompany all payments / donations. (click here to download)
There are three ways a Student can make payments towards their school fees: direct payment, donation, or funds raised through a fund raising event.
Direct Payment: These payments are not tax receiptable and are refundable within the program's refund schedule (see application). In case of emergency, up to 80% of your tuition payments can be refunded at the discretion of Live Different
Donation: (from you or a 3rd party) that is eligible for a Canadian donation receipt for income tax purposes. According to charity law, a donation is a voluntary transfer of property without valuable consideration to the donor; donors cannot choose the beneficiaries of their donations, and a charity must have full discretion in deciding how to allocate its funds. Academy students are not the beneficiaries of this charitable program, they are volunteers that carry out the humanitarian work. Therefore any donations raised by a participant volunteer will be allocated, upon approval from our Board of Directors, towards a fund that subsidizes expenses (fees) of all participant volunteers (the primary criteria in subsidizing fees is the amount that volunteers respectively fund raise). What this means is that all donations are 100% non-refundable. In event of any cancellation, funds will instead be allocated towards other charitable programs. Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $20 or more. Tax receipts to be issued by February 28th of the following year.
Donation from fund raising sales/events: direct proceeds from the sale of goods or services (ex. charity auctions, dinner tickets, book sales, etc). These profits are not eligible for a charitable tax receipt, and are 100% non-refundable.
Student Quotes:
"“My year with (Live Different) was amazing and I wouldn’t change it for the world! I met my best friends there, we have formed these bonds that are amazing. I have also started looking at my life in a whole different perspective… I think about where my food and clothes come from, I don’t take things for granted…and all I want to do is MORE!”"
~ Kimberly White SOL 2007-08
"I loved every part of it! I'd do it a second year if I could!! Its been an amazing life changing experience and something I will never forget."
~ Chad SOL 2009/2010
