Encouraging a community mindset in children early is key to them becoming volunteers later in life.
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That’s the focus of the Albury-Wodonga Volunteer Resource Bureau this week, as volunteers step into the spotlight.
Chief executive Jemma Toohey said a school competition to build a piece of art around National Volunteer Week was a way to start that conversation.
“Students have 50 tiles to work with and they can be as creative as they want or keep it simple,” she said.
“It’s about having a bit of fun and talking about volunteering, and the winning school gets $500 towards their volunteering culture.
“The reason we do this is many children come back to volunteering when they’re older if they’ve had a good experience, so let’s make it a good experience.”
Last year’s winner was Wodonga Primary School.
“The kids came up with ‘give happy, life happy’ and a three-dimensional artwork,” principal Damian Duncan said.
The AWVRB will hold a a community event with Zumba sessions and giveaways from 10am on Thursday at the Albury Entertainment Centre.
“We have a fantastic community and we have to keep that giving culture going,” Ms Toohey said.
“We would see 1000 people each year on average and direct them towards volunteering, and 65 per cent of those people identify as having some disadvantage, so it’s a gentle, comfortable pathway into community.”
- Schools wanting to participate in the competition should contact AWVRB today or tomorrow on (02) 6021 0990.