In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand In Gear - Issue 3 | Page 56

with more general suggestions , which are being taken back to the board for consideration .
“ The youth perspective has made a huge , and positive , difference ,” David says .
“ Their input is all research and evidence-based . The Rescue Mission has access to some of us , as a resource , to help with implementing the recommendations . We ’ re offering our time , our skill , our expertise to help them get things to a level where they can attract further support and funding going forward .”
No stone unturned
Georgia says all of the Rotarians were focused on finding out as much as they could during their stay .
“ We just wanted to know the ins and outs of the whole organisation . And , probably , they don ’ t normally get that level of questioning from a volunteer team .
“ Being from Rotary , and with David ’ s involvement , we were really looking at the long-term stability of their charity . So , we ’ re looking at how we can apply our skills , how we can apply research .”
Despite the long hours and hard work , the Rotarians made sure they found time for play and socialising with the youngsters , including presenting each a special treat from Dunedin NRG .
“ We unpacked the Lego , and they were all peering over so excited ,” Georgia says .
“ They got themselves all organised , lined up and picked up their wee parcel , went and sat in groups to try and put them together . We got involved and had a play , too .”
The children were , by far , the highlight of Georgia ’ s trip .
James Heath shares some quality time .
of child protection , and those policies need to be strengthened – and it was only because of the strength of the young team we had there that we were able to identify new opportunities to help the centre revamp those systems .”
David , a risk management and health and safety specialist , is working with the centre to implement the improvements .
“ Luckily , that ’ s what I do for a living , so I ’ ve got the job to go and help them overhaul their child protection policy , because if they want to increase their capacity at the centre , and they want to attract more support from Rotary , or any service organisation , and they want to go for any types of aid or government funding , they need to have systems to the nth degree .”
As well as making recommendations on health initiatives , the team also left the centre ’ s management
“ Still , when I see pictures of the children … just seeing those absolutely amazing children , who are so keen to learn , and are so loving , and to imagine them in a difficult situation , where they have no opportunity , no support to go to school …
“ They have their life values sussed . They want education , they want family and a loving home , the basics . And I think that brings you down to earth a bit , and makes you realise what ’ s important .
“ Compare that to New Zealand where no-one wants to go to school – we just want to have holidays .
“ For me , being with the children was the real high point , and seeing why we are doing this and giving them our support , because they ’ re just so special . And , not being able to speak the same language as the children , but to still have that connection , was just amazing .
“ I had been to a lot of meetings talking about this , but until you meet the people who are at the heart of it , it ’ s not really real .
Page 56 | In Gear - Rotary in southern New Zealand - District 9980 | www . rotarydistrict9980 . org