Student Volunteer Army scheme hits secondary schools

February 19, 2019

Eight years on from helping clean up after the Christchurch quakes, he wants to inspire the next generation of volunteers.

Thousands of primary school students have already been working for their communities as part of the Student Volunteer Army and now the scheme is being extended to high schools.

It's a spinoff from Canterbury's Student Volunteer Army, which was launched by then-university student Sam Johnson to help clean up sludge after the earthquakes.

Seven Sharp reported that from Christchurch to disasters in Japan and Nepal, Mr Johnson has distinguished himself as willing to muck in. 

His actions have inspired others, even getting the royal tick of approval from Prince Harry.

Now the 2012 Young New Zealander of the Year, who runs the SVA Foundation, has a challenge for a new generation of secondary school students.

Sam said the primary school student volunteer army project has been run for the last two years, "and in four days last year 32,000 kids signed up to it and did a little volunteer project". 

"Everyone gets a little badge. And they go out into the community, they find a project, build a team and a plan. And then they do their project and send us a photo of what they did."

The scheme has gone so well that this year they're extending it to high schools, he said.

A badge system and electronic-record of service will allow secondary students to receive a badge, record their volunteer activity during their time at high school, and work towards a higher level badge.

"It's amazing 'cause it all did just come out of the earthquake. It all came out of this natural thing that happened where we all went and helped out," he said.

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