Connecting with pupils a rewarding experience for Linda

LINDA Davies says volunteering with young school children and seeing their passion for learning is a rewarding experience.

Ms Davies donates some of her time each week to EdConnect, a national charity that recruits and trains volunteers to work in local schools with disadvantaged or at-risk young people.

For the past two years, Ms Davies has volunteered at Drysdale Primary School as a classroom assistant.

“I had recently retired from work and wanted to be able to contribute to my local community in some way and I found EdConnect while searching on the Internet,” she said.

“Volunteering with children had always been my preference as I had enjoyed interacting with my own grandchildren so much and realised that EdConnect was the perfect fit for me.

“I really enjoy seeing the children’s passion for learning and it gives me such a lift for the rest of the week.”

Ms Davies said EdConnect also offered free training with tips on how to communicate with children.

EdConnect recruits, screens, trains and support volunteers to work in local schools across Australia to help at-risk students reach their full potential – in school and in life.

Liaison officer Sally Edgerton said the organisation was so thankful to have volunteers such as Ms Davies in the Geelong region.

“She, along with a further 60 to 70 people from all walks of life (students, part-time workers, retirees) volunteer every week in one (sometimes two) of our 20 schools,” Ms Edgerton said.

“They all believe in our organisation’s purpose and want to provide direct help to schools and more importantly, direct to students.

“This year, more than ever, we want to support our local schools, help them catch up on the disruptions of last year, so we would love to have more volunteers join our program.”

EdConnect Australia has a variety of volunteering roles; long-term mentoring to individual students, support to teachers in the classroom and assistance to schools with special projects and services such as the library, gardening and administration.

If you are interested and can spare at least one hour a week, apply online at edconnectaustralia.org.au/volunteer/