UC’s Student Volunteer Army announces move into 170 secondary schools
Humble beginnings have evolved into a nationwide youth volunteering movement for the University of Canterbury (UC)’s Student Volunteer Army (SVA), which is best known for the impressive response initiated by students during following the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
SVA Founder Sam Johnson briefing volunteers, image provided by SVA
Starting as a simple Facebook event, the SVA grew into one of UC’s most sought after clubs on campus. Nearly a decade on the group is evolving further, encouraging young change makers in New Zealand secondary schools and helping them make a difference in their communities through the SVA Service Award programme.
Since its launch in 2019, 170 schools across New Zealand have signed up to the Service Award.
8,000 students are volunteering in their communities, recording their hours and attributing them to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
This month, the first anniversary of the programme’s launch, a record 300,000 hours of volunteer work were recorded by participating students.