Mentors encouraged to step forward across region

EDCONNECT volunteers have been assisting children across the region reach greater potential at school and in life, while enriching their own through volunteering.

EdConnect Australia is on the search for new volunteers who would like to help make a difference in students’ lives.

Leah Kateiva joined EdConnect Australia in January 2021 and mentored a small group of primary aged students to support their wellbeing.

Her support helped deliver strong, positive outcomes for the students.

“Each week the same three participants would arrive each with different backgrounds, experiences, struggles, and concerns. On a particular week, the students described they would like to cook together,” Ms Kateiva said.

“It became apparent that the students enjoyed the cooking process. You would be surprised how this linked to some important life lessons.”

According to EdConnect Australia, volunteers place high emphasise on supporting students within the region including those whose learning was disrupted by COVID-19 in previous years.

Over the past five years, fellow mentors Reno Demicoli and Marianne Nyof have mentored primary aged students at both Northern Bay College and Lara-based primary schools.

Ms Nyof explained how her support helped a student with his reading.

 

“In 2020, I recall regularly working with a young boy who struggled with his reading,” Ms Nyof said. “I often played ‘Spelfabet’ with him and one day he joyfully mastered reading some five letter words. As the principal dropped by, he was so excited to tell him ‘I can read Mr Black, I can read!’.”

Mr Demicoli said using his life experience to help children made him feel he was contributing to something greater than himself.

“Come retirement days you can feel like you are on the scrap heap, EdConnect Australia is a golden opportunity to feel like you are still required by society, and one you will be remembered for,” Mr Demicoli said.

 

Sally Edgerton, EdConnect Australia’s Geelong and Surf Coast regional liaison Oofficer said the difference volunteers made to people was amazing.

“It only takes an hour a week to make a difference in a student’s life,” Ms Edgerton said.

“I consistently hear about the shifts in the students who work with our volunteers, and it is vitally important we continue this support in 2022.

“We recruit, screen and train skilled volunteers to provide life-changing mentoring or learning support to students in local schools who might struggle to realise their potential – in school and life.”

EdConnect Australia volunteers offers one-on-one mentoring to students in need, learning support assistance in the classroom with subjects such as numeracy, reading, science or help around the school in kitchen garden projects, library, administration, school gardens, and much more.

For more information head to www.edconnectaustralia.org.au, contact [email protected] or call 1800 668 550.