› Project SEARCH participant goes on to achieve her dreams

Former Project SEARCH Intern Bella Lammers, has been named in the New Zealand swim squad to compete in the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin in 2023.

Project SEARCH is an employer-led programme providing a year-long internship to students with learning disabilities, so they can develop new skills in the workplace, supported by a transitional school environment. Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury (Canterbury DHB as it was then) was the first in Australasia to offer this programme. Bella, aged 21, is part of a 40-strong swim team that will compete in the games being held in June next year. “I love swimming and I train four to five times a week at the Selwyn pool at the moment, sometimes with an instructor. I’m really proud and excited about travelling to Germany. I’m also a bit nervous travelling without my family,” she says. Bella is also preparing for the National Special Olympics in Hamilton in December. She won three medals at the last games in Wellington. As part of her internship, Bella was placed at Burwood Hospital and the Aranui Community Dental Clinic.

“I loved working at Project SEARCH. At the dental clinic I learned to use the machine to sterilise the instruments and they told me I was really good at that job. I loved making lots of new friends at Project SEARCH,” Bella says. Community Dental Services Team Leader Kim Heslop says the support and encouragement Bella received while working with the team at Aranui may have played a small part in contributing to building her confidence to achieve her dreams.

“What a wonderful achievement.”

Project SEARCH Coordinator Linda Leishman says a talented bunch of young people come through Project SEARCH. “One of our 2022 interns is currently travelling back from the World Down Syndrome Champs in Portugal, via Brisbane where he is competing in the Virtus Oceania/Asia Games.” Bella is also training for her green belt in karate and has just moved into a flat with two flatmates.

Bella using the autoclave machine to sterilise dental equipment during her stint at Project SEARCH at the Aranui Community Dental Clinic