Published 20 September 2016

Volunteering with Wellington Curtain Bank

Emma Wadsworth, Year 12 at Wellington East Girls' College, volunteered for Wellington Curtain Bank earlier this month, making 12 doorsnakes - more coming! - which will be used to make draughty homes a little bit warmer. Emma has written about her experience volunteering for the Trust.

"I chose to contribute towards Sustainability Trust as it was a part of an internal I did in my sociology class. We had to take an action that was related to an issue in New Zealand that I had previously researched, the issue that I choose was the poor quality of New Zealand houses. I feel that this is such a huge issue that is facing New Zealand and has such big consequences on the families living in these homes. Consequences such as respiratory and skin diseases, hospital visits, mental illness, an unsustainable income and over all a massive risk on their well-being. I contributed my time through my passion to make a difference in this world and especially to this issue. I hate knowing that there are people suffering from direct illness because of a housing issue that could so easily be fixed and would make illnesses preventable. I don't believe that anyone should have to suffer living in an inadequate house. I am gaining huge benefits in the terms of gaining a wider range of thinking and understanding how other lives is impacted by unlivable circumstances. I also feel so much richer and wealthy in the heart and mind, through doing something for someone else rather than myself. Making the door snakes is something so easy yet so effective. I extremely love working with Sustainability Trust and this is something that I wish to carry out through the years. Make the difference that you wish to see."

Thanks so much Emma! If you've been inspired to learn more about volunteering for the Trust, please get in touch.