The importance of community and kindness…

 

Next year, our indomitable volunteer Liz will celebrate fifteen years of volunteering with EdConnect. Each week Liz visits her local school, Eden Hill Primary, where she supports students with their literacy and numeracy.

“I was conned into it,” Liz laughs when asked what drew her to volunteering.

“I had a boarder at the time who was doing it and told me I had to do it too.”

Once she started volunteering, the reason to continue became clear: “the kids are desperately in need of support,” she said.

Liz grew up in various places, but mostly in the country. She recalls the sense of freedom offered by a rural upbringing, “camping, bush-bashing, a real ‘all creatures great and small’ type lifestyle.”

As a young adult, Liz trained as a nurse and worked in nursing homes before transitioning to caring for young people with disabilities. Not one to rest on her laurels, when she retired in the mid-80s, Liz went to university and pursued a Bachelor of Philosophy.

“It gave me a broader understanding of the world and made me more open to the things around me,” she said.

You can see that community is important to Liz, and that she lives by her values. As she sat and chatted with EdConnect Area Manager Sarah White, a young woman approaches the table asking for money to buy a coffee. Without hesitation, Liz buys the drink and asks, “do you want some tucker too?” They settle on a pie.

“Liz doesn’t just talk the talk; she demonstrates true kindness and a strong sense of community through all her actions. Liz’s connection and care for vulnerable others has evolved into a fiery dedication to supporting young people in a school environment and their prospects beyond,” said Sarah. 

“I believe it is critical for the long-term well being of these kids that they develop a comfortable grasp of basic maths and become literate enough to read a driver’s license manual: vital skills for employment, for further learning and a reasonable work life,” Liz continued.

Liz is equally passionate when encouraging others to join her in volunteering in a local school.

“There are kids in every classroom that need some extra time and support… you don’t need any special skills, just time and a willingness to help,” says Liz.  “Even just reading with a child each week can help so much. Once you start, you will not be able to stop!  It is too compelling,” she laughed.

An hour a week can make a huge difference to a student. If you would like to know more about how you can use your own unique set of life skills to help support a child, please click here or call (08) 9444 8646.