SERVICE WEEK Doing good in the ’hood
The Year 10 boys who participated in Service Week very quickly realised giving service in the community and helping others enhanced their own sense of wellbeing.
And, with 60 boys providing the manpower for a range of projects, Assistant Principal – Community Engagement and Special Projects Neil Porter estimates collectively they put in over 1200 hours of work, doing a power of good in the process. The boys worked on projects with the Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust, Christchurch City Council Park Rangers, Christchurch City Mission, Hohepa Canterbury, Lyttelton Port Company and Orana Wildlife Park. They helped clear gorse and broom, weed and mulch around native planting, create footpaths and tracks, prepare a new orangutan enclosure, clean night shelters and bake muffins, and more. It was frequently hard, physical work, and Neil was impressed with
the way the boys got stuck into each project. “I’m thrilled with the way the boys bought into it. They were so positive and so determined to be helpful – giving time, effort and energy to improve things for others. They worked really hard and had a fantastic attitude.” Neil says instilling a commitment to service is an increasingly important aspect of College life. “There’s a lot to be learned from service, and many organisations and people who need our help. It’s good to enable the boys to have the experience of doing things for no other reason than to be helpful, and service brings its own reward. It’s beneficial for others, and immeasurably beneficial for self.”
Service Week ran from Monday 20–Friday 24 November. It is set to become a fixture on the College calendar and Neil plans to forge
long-term relationships with participating organisations.
“There’s a lot to be learned fromservice, andmany organisations and people who need our help.” Neil Porter
College Issue 34 2018
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