It’s the final quarter and my quietness on the blog front is not a reflection of a quiet working world this November and December!!
For the past 2 months my calendar has been packed full of events! Much tooing and frooing to Wellington was done for the Volunteering New Zealand Conference (where Lani’s crew of young volunteers stole the show), then to Parliament for a special Foundation presentation to MPS in the Great Hall, and back the following week for a Youthline National Executive meeting.
November kicked off with the World of Difference 2010 announcement event and induction day. This was an exciting time to meet with the new recipients and hear about the wonderful work they are going to be doing next year. What an incredible bunch of young leaders: they left me with a sense of inspiration that anything is possible if there is passion and commitment.
As they look forward to new beginnings we are busily wrapping up a very full year at Youthline House. And we have been busy in the hub! Celebrations abound for the mentor team who have DOUBLED the number of trainee counsellors who have graduated to solo this semester from 2008. What has been most awesome is that we have managed to do all this hard work whilst keeping the team happy and relaxed so that they can begin the year afresh in 2010 with lots of positive energy for their work. Our final Mentors team meeting was a chance to celebrate and look back at how far we have come as a team! Wooooooo hoooooooo thanks Vodafone!
Mid November I was invited to speak at the Vodafone induction day sharing with new employees a little bit about the impact the World of difference programme has had on Youthline and how volunteering has changed my life. I relished in the opportunity to reconnect with the sense of purpose this work has given me.
Events continued to make up my calendar with a morning on the Grey Lynn festival Stall. Fight Night: Fight for Youth followed and we raised over $10,000 for our Manukau Centre, and supported our own Georgina ‘cool hands’ Clarke in the ring, beating her opponent and doing the Youthline Whanau proud.
Back on the home front more preparation was in action for the volunteers ‘Red Featuring White’ Christmas party. Red and white adorned volunteers packed the dance floor- they sure know how to party! Amongst all the silliness we had the opportunity to celebrate everyone’s contribution through the year and to announce our inaugural Volunteer of the Year award. A special taonga had been carved and blessed for the occasion and the votes had been coming in fast and furious for 2weeks. The nominees were the top 10 contributors on the helpline, this group did a staggering 700 volunteer hours combined in 2009- that’s 30 days work, day and night.
Youthline CEO Stephen Bell (left) Volunteer of the Year Jaimee Lynn McPhee (centre) and Tiffany (right)
24 year old Jaime Lynn McPhee was the winner and received the award with grace and modesty. She is known to her peers as incredibly compassionate, always able to provide enlightening perspectives and has deep empathy and understanding.
What a way to end the year and bring on the holidays!
MERI KIRIMETE
Tiffany
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