Volunteering: Day, UniGuides, PASS Mentors

There are lots of opportunities to volunteer and get involved here at Waipapa Taumata Rau | the University of Auckland. From programmes like UniGuide and PASS Mentor where you can help new students, all the way to UoA Volunteer Day where you can give your time up one day of the year to help out with causes you care about. Check out what some of the volunteers have been up to in 2021.

What did you enjoy most about your volunteer experience?

Being part of a passionate team of UniGuides with a shared goal of welcoming new students. The atmosphere was always positive. This was true at all of the events, orientation days, and training sessions. The team spirit was strong, and it was clear that everyone genuinely wanted to help new students transition well into university life. The experience was very satisfying, and being surrounded by like-minded, sincere peers made it all the more enjoyable.

What was one thing you took away from being a UniGuide?

I remember my own orientation experience when I started university, which included interactions with UniGuides. Now that I’ve been a UniGuide myself, I can see all of the work that goes on behind the scenes to put on the programme, and how invested everyone is in helping new students. As a student, I’m more likely to access support options if I’m ever struggling, as I know that there are teams behind them that genuinely want to help you!

Zoene Tovosia, UniGuide

Area of study: Geography & Anthropological Science

What motivated you to volunteer as a UniGuide?

I’ve been looking for ways to be involved in the University and volunteering as a UniGuide stood out to me.

What did you get involved in?

I got to do so many cool activities as a UniGuide. I got to help organise events, make new friends, attend consent workshops, and most importantly I got to meet and guide new students.

What did you enjoy most about your volunteer experience?

Helping during the orientation day was one thing I enjoyed most about my volunteer experience as a UniGuide. Orientation day was very eventful where we got to meet a lot of new students and eat lots of yummy food.

What was one thing you took away from being a UniGuide?

One thing I took away from being a UniGuide was how something small as providing simple guidance to new students can contribute and positively enhance their experience at the University.

Jacca Chang, UoA Group Volunteer Day participant

Area of study: English & History

“For me, the UoA Volunteer Day was one of the highlights of 2021. In a year of sporadic lockdowns and extended periods of isolation, the UoA Volunteer Day was such an important reminder of how important and rewarding it is to connect with and give back to our broader Auckland community!”

What motivated you to volunteer at the University’s first group volunteer day?

I’ve always been really interested in volunteering, so I was super excited when the event was first put forward because it was the first time that I saw this kind of volunteering event held at the university. As an executive member of the UoA Volunteers Club, I was also super keen to support all our members at the event!

What activity did you participate in on the day?

We helped Blind Low Vision NZ replace stickers on fundraising buckets, write Christmas cards, and rebrand plush puppies.

What did you enjoy most about the day?

Above all, I really enjoyed getting to meet and interact with so many new people throughout the day! Over the course of the day, you really get to bond with the other people at your project. Getting to hear the stories that drew different people to UoA Volunteer Day was so fascinating and eye-opening. It was so encouraging to see so many people passionate and willing to help out an important cause in the community!

What was one thing you took away from UoA Volunteer Day?

The most important thing I took away from the day was just how easy it is to help out! It was so rewarding to see all the progress we achieved within just a few hours. Even small actions can have a big impact, and you can have so much fun while doing them.

What motivated you to volunteer at the University’s first group volunteer day?

Volunteering opportunities away from university often require us to arrange our own form of commute to and back from home, and although this is the norm, being able to travel with your friends feels closer to a field trip I never knew I needed. When the event announcement was released, I remember being packed with assignments and shift work. But being busy with work is not always productive, as we forget to appreciate our surrounding opportunities. So, I decided to take one day off and really immerse in this one-time opening to volunteer before lockdown struck again!

What activity did you participate in on the day?

Tree Planting with Kaipātiki Project.

What did you enjoy most about the day?

To sum it up in sentence, it was being able to create a meaningful memory with our university peers. Being able to plant trees was not just an opportunity to regenerate our native biodiversity and promote environmental sustainability; but almost like planning a time capsule. It was planting a memory of meeting people from various backgrounds for the first time, and although there is a chance we may not get to meet again, it is a memory that will persist as long as the trees flourish. 

What was one thing you took away from UoA Volunteer Day?

Thanks to UoA Volunteer Day I was able to appreciate the importance of being present in the moment. In the three years of being a university student, never had I felt so close to our culture both for university and whenua. Day-to-day behind a computer screen on Zoom, we really forget the beautiful diversity we have here at the University of Auckland. But being able to come together on a day to learn more about each other and make a difference, felt so powerful. I wish I could go again!