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ADVERTISING FEATURE Saturday, June 15, 2019 Ashburton Guardian
Creating change in our community National Volunteer Week for 2019 is almost upon us. The week celebrates the collective contribution of the 1.2 million volunteers who enrich Aotearoa New Zealand. National Volunteer Week 2019 runs from June 16-22. This year’s theme is “Whiria te tangata – weaving the people together”. Volunteering, Mahi Aroha and social action weave people and communities together. The call is being put out to the country to join together this National Volunteer Week to stand together in our differences and choose to connect. Become a volunteer and create change in your community. Volunteering is any activity that involves putting your unpaid time, energy and skills for the greater good. New Zealand is a leading nation in the contribution made by volunteers. A recent study of New Zealand non-profit sectors estimated that volunteers contribute more than 157 million unpaid hours of work valued at over $3.5 billion to non-profit organisations. Volunteers create positive change on many fronts – human rights, faith communities, health, education, sports and recreation, social services, arts and culture, emergency services, the environment and conservation, animal welfare, and community support development – the list is endless.
Why do people volunteer: • To learn new skills, knowledge and experience • To develop existing skills, knowledge
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and experience To find new passions To meet new people and forming long-term friends and partnerships
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To contribute to a good cause To make an invaluable difference To have fun!
“Thank you for making our communities safer and better.” Francesca
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This week we are celebrating National Volunteer Week. Across New Zealand, more than 11,000 Fire and Emergency volunteers help keep their communities safe. fireandemergency.nz/volunteer