Jamie Harper and Carter Maddock
Kia Ora School,
Social Action is the act of putting the needs and interests of others before those of yourself to create change. As Social Action Prefects it is our responsibility to coordinate and implement events for charities and other organisations that benefit and seek to directly impact upon the lives of the vulnerable within our community and wider society. We are responsible for events such as 40 Hour Famine, Blood Drive and Shave for a Cure. If these sound like something you wish to take part in, contact us or keep your eyes out for any notices regarding these events.
The SVA Service Award is an initiative created by the Student Volunteer Army - a youth organisation committed to helping others and creating positive change within our communities. This programme allows students to receive acknowledgment of the volunteering and selflessness they have displayed in their local communities by logging their total number of service hours. If you are interested: follow the link below to find out more.
The 40 Hour Famine is an annual event organised by World Vision is the largest youth fundraising event in New Zealand - which enables our students to have an impact upon the lives of others within our wider, global society.
This year, as a College, we raised over $6500 to help subsistence farmers in Malawi whose lives and livelihoods are impacted upon by Climate Change.
This is an amazing contribution to our global community.
Gumboot Friday is an event created by Mental Health advocate Mike King to raise funds to go towards providing free and timely counselling services to young New Zealanders. Due to COVID-19, Horowhenua College's actions had to be postponed to later in the year when we hope to be able to raise awareness of the mental health services available to young people.
Next Event:
Date: TBC
On the 5th-7th June, thirty-one students participated in the World Vision: 40 Hour Famine, as a school we raised over $6789 and raised awareness of the impact that climate change is having on the lives of the people of Malawi.
This is an amazing contribution everyone involved has made to our wider global society and as Social Action Prefects we are incredibly proud of everyone who participated and thank our community for the generosity in donating to a worthy cause.
Carter Maddock and Jamie Harper
2020 Social Action Prefects
Gumboot Friday was held earlier this year on the 3rd April 2020 and while we as Social Action Prefects had originally planned to hold a Day of Action at school - due to Lockdown we asked our wider school community to submit photos of them and their whanau wearing gumboots to stand in solidarity with those whose lives are impacted by ill mental health everyday. Thanks to all who submitted their photos to us. Here are just a few of the submissions we received.
Service is one of the four key pillars here at Horowhenua College. Over the last two terms as a school we have become affiliated with the SVA Service Award; an award administered by the Student Volunteer Army to recognise the service our students give to both our school and wider community. Students have overwhelmingly bought into this programme with us collectively as a school having logged over 2000 volunteering and service hours. This highlights the amazing, positive impact our students are having both within our local community and wider society, but globally as well. Six of our students have received silver SVA Awards, in recognition of contributing over 250 hours of service to others, with one student being awarded a Gold SVA Service Award in recognition of over 500 service to the community.