Vodafone Foundation funds more community leaders’ salaries

Media Release

15 November 2012

Vodafone Foundation funds 11 more community leaders’ salaries

Being paid a full time salary to help young New Zealanders turn their lives around was just a dream for Jay Junior Williams, but today he joins 10 other charity workers who have been given the chance to turn volunteering into paid employment as recipients of the 10th annual Vodafone New Zealand Foundation World of Difference awards.

Announced yesterday, the awards will pay the salary and expenses for all 11 recipients for a year while they work in the youth-related charity of their choice.

Jay is Youth Arts Manager at Corban Estate Arts Centre, and the funding will allow him to focus on developing a new youth programme incorporating a wide range of artforms including drama, music, dance, and film-making. He joins recipients delivering programmes as diverse as helping research a therapeutic foster care model, building resilience amongst teenagers in Canterbury, and supporting education opportunities for Māori boys (among many others).

Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Chair Antony Welton says the World of Difference is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of young New Zealanders.

“We’re really proud to be supporting the largest number of recipients in 2012, as we celebrate 10 years of the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation World of Difference. From day one, it has been about empowering passionate and inspiring people who have a desire to change the world around them, and the programme still stands true to this purpose. ”

Instead of giving money directly to charities, the World of Difference funds the individuals to use their skills, expertise, and passion to make a difference working with their chosen charity. Founded in 2002, the scheme has now invested over $5.5 million and supported 69 New Zealanders, with flow on effects to hundreds of young people across the country.

Antony says this year several recipients have shown a strong desire to use technology to deliver positive outcomes for young people, including Jackson Darlow who will be working with Youthline to improve the way it supports young people through electronic channels.

The 2013 World of Difference participants are:

· Bailey Peryman, Regional Coordinator for Hand Over a Hundy, Soil and Health Association Canterbury (Christchurch)

· Deidre Otene, Taiohi Whai Oranga Project Development Manager, Manurewa Marae (South Auckland)

· Iain Rudkin, Project Developer, Kiwi E-Learning Trust (Hamilton)

· Jackson Darlow, New Technologies Advisor, Youthline Charitable Trust (Auckland)

· Jay Junior Williams, Youth Arts Manager, Corban Estate Arts Centre (West Auckland)

· Karl Madsen, Project Director, Springboard Community Works (North Rodney)

· Peter Allely, Zeal Hamilton Manager/Youth Worker, Zeal Education Trust (Hamilton)

· Rachel Mackay, Research and Practice Developer, Open Home Foundation (Hawkes Bay)

· Sarah Longbottom, Creative Director, Nga Rangatahi Toa Creative Arts Initiative (Auckland)

· Terrance Wallace, Project Developer, United Māori Mission (Auckland)

· Ursula Becroft Thynne, National Youth and Transition Coordinator, Deaf Aotearoa New Zealand (Auckland)

The Vodafone New Zealand Foundation World of Difference has invested over $16 million in the not-for-profit sector in New Zealand and around the world over the past 10 years, through initiatives such as World of Difference.

The programme not only provides financial support, but also an environment where recipients can share ideas and network with current and former recipients throughout the year.

For more information see www.vodafonenzfoundation.org.nz.

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