Save the Children Celebrates Volunteers

Save the Children Celebrates Volunteers

National Volunteer Week (Sunday 16 to Saturday 22 June) is the largest celebration of volunteering in New Zealand.  Save the Children New Zealand thanks its hundreds of volunteers for their loyal and terrific contribution. 

“New Zealand’s Save the Children volunteers make a massive contribution to all we do.  They  are the heart of Save the Children and essential to our work in New Zealand.  We could not support so many programmes without their amazing generosity,” says Heather Hayden, Save the Children New Zealand chief executive.

New Zealand’s Save the Children volunteers give their time, talents and enthusiasm.  There are 27 branches and 23 shops throughout the country.  The volunteers work in Save the Children shops and also organise fundraising activities including fairs, stalls, garage sales, appeals, raffles, coach trips, movie nights, morning teas, luncheons, fashion shows, dance shows and other events.  The proceeds help support Save the Children programmes in New Zealand and around the world.

Save the Children’s Journey of Hope programme provides support for families and children affected by the Christchurch earthquakes.  International programmes include – a literacy project in Indonesia, education for socially-excluded children in Bangladesh, early childhood education in Eastern Nepal and Fiji, literacy and numeracy in the Solomon Islands and disaster risk reduction in Laos.  Save the Children New Zealand also responds to international emergencies, recently giving $160,000 to help those in Syria in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.

“As well as the strong team of adult volunteers, children across the country also volunteer and help fundraise,” says Heather Hayden.  “And now we have the recently established Child and Youth Council, a nationally represented group of children and young people who volunteer their time to advise the Save the Children Board on matters of interest and concern.”

The Child and Youth Council (CYC) advocates for the wellbeing of New Zealand children through research and gathering youth perspectives.  This information is used to engage the government and policy makers directly or by way of submissions.  The CYC is linked to a supportive local branch structure of adult volunteers providing inspiration and mentoring.

Save the Children was launched in London in 1919 by Eglantyne Jebb and her sister Dorothy Buxton in the response to the post-war needs of children across Europe.  In 1947 Save the Children New Zealand was established.

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children, working in 120 countries - saving children’s lives; fighting for their rights; helping them fulfil their potential.

No child is born to die.

ENDS

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