April 01, 2021
Mentoring diverse students second nature to EdConnect Peel Volunteer of the Year
Tireless community volunteer Rose Wu (45) has been recognised for her unwavering commitment to mentoring students from diverse backgrounds after being announced as the 2020 Peel Volunteer of the Year by EdConnect Australia.
Rose is one of 160 EdConnect volunteers who last year provided about 240 hours of support each week to around 900 students across the Kwinana, Peel and Upper South West areas through the Connecting Generations for School Success Program funded by the Alcoa Foundation. Alcoa and EdConnect have been working together since 2016 to establish and grow volunteer assistance in local schools.
EdConnect Australia aims to equip young people with the life skills they need to break the cycle of disadvantage by creating a positive and supported learning environment.
Rose started volunteering after migrating to Australia in 2018, following a desire to connect with her local community and support students from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Through EdConnect Australia, she started mentoring students at North Mandurah Primary School and Coastal Lakes College, often drawing on her personal experience to help students struggling with English as a second language.
When asked what the best thing about volunteering with EdConnect Australia was, Rose said “I see the children changing a little bit every day and this is very meaningful to me”.
“Active listening is very important in building up a relationship with the student because the more you listen to them the more they like to talk to you,” continued Rose.
EdConnect Liaison Officer Peel, South West and Albany Karen Barden explained why she nominated Rose for this award: “There were some students that had English as a second language and they were having trouble settling in. The school let me know that our volunteer Rose was such a support to those students and really made that transition to living in Australia much easier”.
A further award recipient Christina Stonesmith from Warnbro Community High School received the Desmond Heenan School Coordinator of the Year Award also showcased the high calibre of the volunteers in the Peel Region.
The Desmond Heenan Award honours and recognises school based staff who undertake additional responsibilities in their school as the School Volunteer Coordinator for EdConnect, and who have demonstrated outstanding service to support the program and the School based volunteers.
The awards were announced last night at the EdConnect 2020 Volunteering Awards Ceremony. The event was attended by volunteers, school members, community leaders and stakeholders, corporate partners and the EdConnect Board.
Alcoa Corporate Affairs Manager Suellen Jerrard congratulated Rose and Christina on their awards and thanked them and the many other tireless volunteers making a positive difference in the lives of the next generation.
For more information about the EdConnect volunteering opportunities see www.edconnectaustralia.org.au, contact edconnect@edconnect.org.au or call 1800 668 550.
Rose Wu’s YouTube Link: click here
Media contact:
Rachel Crisp
EdConnect Australia: Communications Advisor