Students pitch in for community

Article from: Timaru Courier | Author: By Shelly Inon | 26 July 2024

A group of Mountainview High School students are making soup for those in need.

The school’s Student Volunteer Army (SVA) collaborated with Te Aitarakihi Mara Kai (community garden) to cook soup which was served out on Friday evening at the Timaru Port carpark.

Organiser and deputy head student Jack Conlan said that as well as cooking the soup, students were also participating in bi-monthly working bees at the garden, where they helped to plant, weed, water and harvest the vegetables.

Jack hoped the initiative would bring the school closer to the marae and promote community engagement.

He said as well as supporting the marae’s "Soup on the Bay" initiative, the work also helped community members "struggling with food security".

The project also included the school’s Te Whare Ako learning support students, who worked with support staff to produce soup for the school’s Wednesday shared lunch.

While the soups had previously been vegetarian, the school had been given a monthly donation of New Zealand-produced pork from a nearby farmer.

The students would happily receive any other donations to stock their pantry with the likes of soup mix, spices, or money for other staples.

The school’s first Student Volunteer Army began this year.

"We have gathered 70-plus students who have contributed more than 1600 hours so far this year."

While other schools also had an SVA, he felt Mountainview’s point of difference was that the school organised and supported the SVA activities.

"It is not a one-time thing."

He felt volunteering had benefited himself, the students and the community.

Before arriving in Timaru, Jack had experience volunteering with the Student Volunteer Army at the Christchurch City Mission Food Bank programme.

As a small child he also took part in cleaning up after Christchurch’s earthquakes.

"I love seeing the impact these experiences not only have on the volunteers themselves but the community as a whole too."

He said SVA taught you how to adapt your knowledge.

"You learn how to make it work and how to be resourceful. Some of the skills and lessons you won’t learn anywhere else.

"When I started with SVA, it was for the badges. However, I quickly learnt what extensive opportunities it provides by putting students in their local communities, networking and allowing students to network for their own benefits, making friends while they do it."