More than 300 Victoria University students and staff will volunteer their time and skills in dozens of community projects across Maribyrnong in the University's first annual Volunteer for You (V4U) Day on Friday 14 October.
Fuelled by an early morning breakfast at Footscray Park Campus, the volunteers will set out in teams to tackle some 30 projects including: rejuvenating community gardens; building new fences at aged care homes; organising donations at local opportunity shops and food banks; socialising with local at-risk youth and homeless men; and restoring run-down facilities at neighbourhood houses.
The student volunteers are from all campuses, and study a range of courses, including trades, business, event management, health, hospitality and education.
V4U Project Leader and Bachelor of Business (Events and Hospitality) student Kristi Sudholz said the project is a day for VU volunteers to give back to the community for its support of Victoria University.
"The event aims to build a stronger relationship between students, the local community, and the University, and should be an extremely fulfilling day for all those involved," said Kristi, who is involved in the project as a Students-as-Staff member.
V4U participants will also receive credit toward student leadership qualifications. The project is also expected to provide future networking and partnership opportunities with the community organisations for VU students and staff.
All equipment and materials required for the projects will be funded by Victoria University and Bunnings Warehouse.
Journalists and photographers are invited to the following projects:
Project 1:
Where: Footscray Aged Care, 25 Mephan St, Footscray,
What: VU volunteers redesigning furniture and garden in a run-down courtyard
Student contact: Ceril Gocuk, 4th Year Bachelor of Psychology and HR Management student
When: Friday 14 October 2011 at 2.00pm
Project 2:
Where: West Footscray Neighbourhood House, 539 Barkly Street, West Footscray
What: VU volunteers cleaning and sorting items for Toy Library, helping at kindergarten, and creating a veggie patch
Student contact: Deepa Chand, 2nd Year Bachelor of Law and Accounting student
Time: 1.00pm
Project 3:
Where: Western English Language School, 113 Melon Street, Braybrook
What: VU volunteers in various classroom activities
Student contact: Allan Brown, 2nd Year Bachelor of Information Systems student
Time: 1.30pm
Contact:
Kristi Sudholz
V4U Volunteer Project Leader
Student Leadership, Student Engagement, Victoria University
Ph: 9919 4093.
Media contact:
Ann Marie Angebrandt, Media Officer,
Marketing & Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 5487; mobile: 0403 556 001
annmarie.angebrandt@vu.edu.au
