Happy 2008 everyone! Well it’s finally happened – the end of my World of Difference Year. I suppose it’s not unreasonable to feel quite reflective at this moment. It has been a wonderful 12 months and I believe that I have made a significant difference through my work at EDEN in 2007. These achievements are all the more exciting because they include the development of services that will go on meeting the education and support needs of those in the community with eating difficulties (provided we can continue securing funding that is!). Before I recap the major achievements over the year, I’ll catch you up on December.
For many December whizzes by amidst trying to meet deadlines and tie up loose ends. I was no different! We had two Saturday planning and review days at EDEN with the entire organisation present (staff, management and governance and our collective membership). This was a great opportunity to reflect on the achievements in 2007 and how we have met plenty of our goals, and to do strategic planning for the next 2 years. I also assisted Louise with pulling together the content and printing EDEN’s Christmas newsletter. I oversaw the final editing and proofing of the counselling policy/procedures project, presented EDEN’s counselling service to the counsellors and doctors at Student Health at Auckland University, co-faciitated EDEN’s parents and other carers monthly support group, facilitated EDEN’s ongoing women’s support group, updated some of the content on EDEN’s website, worked with Deb on the training book for the 2008 school Body Image Leaders, completed a funding application and a funding accountability report, and hosted a Christmas lunch for the incredibly hardworking EDEN staff!
Alongside this I also saw my regular counselling clients for face to face appointments. Christmas and the holidays can be challenging for people with eating and body image issues. Food is often a big part of celebrations and family get-togethers at this time and this can be uncomfortable although it also presents some great opportunities to practice self care and try new things. Working with my counselling clients at EDEN is always very humbling and grounding and I spent some time in December reflecting upon the courage and dedication of the women I have worked with in 2007 who are committed to moving away from disordered eating. While I love leading EDEN and being involved in fundraising, management and project development, it is the face-to-face contact with clients that makes it all seem worthwhile.
While there were far too many highlights provided by my WOD year in 2007 to list them all here, I do want to mention a few:
* Attending international conferences and networking with other clinicians, community organisations, and academics and having it reinforced that EDEN does great work
* Developing a thorough counselling service policy and procedures document that is the framework for the operation of a professional community counselling service for eating difficulties
* Considerably improving EDEN’s funding situation so that we now have 6 months operating expenses in the bank (this is up from about 7 weeks!)
* Supporting youth worker Deb with the development of some excellent resources and training workshops for EDEN’s school health promotion programme
* Significantly raising the profile of EDEN and of the importance of community-based services for disordered eating (both in the media and the community)
* Our fantastic inaugural Love Your Body Day event!
Before I sign off I want to thank the Vodafone NZ Foundation for their World of Difference programme. It is an aweseome initiatve that leaves a wonderful and meaningful legacy in the community. I have had an amazing year that has stretched me both professionally and personally and which has honed my passion and commitment to providing education and support services in the field of disordered eating. Thank you.
