Auckland academic wins youth-mentoring Fellowship

Auckland academic wins youth-mentoring Fellowship

Dr. Pat Bullen, a University of Auckland lecturer in youth mentoring, has been awarded this year’s Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship 2014.

Over the past two years, Pat has developed a course teaching theory and research in the area of youth mentoring. In partnering with the Great Potentials Foundation, the course includes a “service-learning’ component where students must complete a 50 hour internship, mentoring a Year 8 student from a decile one school who has been identified as needing additional support in negotiating the transition to secondary school.

Pat is passionate about the power of mentoring in young people’s lives.

“The objective of my Fellowship is to enhance the quality and reach of youth mentoring, by expanding programmes with tertiary service learning courses, improving networking and communication within the sector and developing evidence-based practice,” explains Pat.

Pat was selected from a group of high quality applicants, and described as an ‘inspirational’ applicant by the selection team.

The Vodafone NZ Foundation is focused on supporting young people not currently engaged in meaningful learning, or at risk of not being engaged.

Vodafone NZ Foundation Chair, Antony Welton, says: “The vision of the Foundation is to see more young people meaningfully engaged in learning, so that – ultimately – there will be more young people equipped to positively contribute to society. The Fellowship is about developing leaders in the youth health and development sector in achieving this vision.”

The Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship will give Pat the opportunity to further develop her expertise through examining youth mentoring models overseas and developing strategies and resources to advance the establishment of more community-tertiary partnerships throughout New Zealand. To achieve this, she will also be working closely with the New Zealand Youth Mentoring Network.

The Vodafone New Zealand Foundation recognises that holistic wellbeing of young people is required for meaningful engagement. The Foundation has invested over $17 million in charitable projects since 2003.

ENDS

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