The altruism of one of Wānaka’s youngest volunteers was celebrated at the Kahu Youth Volunteer Awards last Friday (September 14).

Sixteen-year-old Jessie McNeil has done nearly every type of volunteering, from planting trees to working with school volunteer committees and even travelling to Nepal to help with the construction of a school.

Jessie was presented with the Supreme Award at Friday’s awards night, a long-running annual event designed to showcase the positive contributions of young people in the Upper Clutha.

Jessie is also a member in the Rangatahi-Led Fund group with the Otago Community Trust, a long-serving Upper Clutha Youth Council member, a volunteer with Kahu Youth and a ranger with Wānaka Girl Guides.

11-13 category winner Mia Reardon

“Volunteering is a way of connecting with other people and making a difference no matter the size,” Jessie said. 

“For me there's a deep sense of fulfilment that comes from knowing you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself.”

In addition to the Supreme Award, the Kahu Youth Volunteer Awards celebrate volunteers across three age categories.

They included 11-year-old Mia Reardon, who was the winner of the 11-13 age category, having completed 70 hours of voluntary work over the past eight months.

She has volunteered with Te Kura O Tititea Mt Aspiring College (MAC) in the library, helped with the mural project and Matariki celebrations at Kahu Youth, and supported a range of initiatives at St John.

Fourteen-year-old Oscar Searle, who won the 14-16 age category, was recognised for extensive volunteer work on a wide range of multisport events and ski events, as well as with the Wānaka Football Club and Kahu Youth.

In the 17-18 category, 17-year-old Ryan Enoka was the winner, having undertaken volunteering as a coach with Aspiring Athletes, at a range of other sport events, and a range of voluntary roles at MAC, among others.

Kahu Youth volunteer manager Jo Lewis said she was blown away by the “sheer amount of volunteering” done by the winners, as well as many other nominees.

17-18 category winner Ryan Enoka with Kahu Youth Trust chair Randal Dobbs

“The interesting thing is that, for these kids, volunteering is not box ticking for them; it comes from a place of altruism,” she said. 

“They just love the rewards of what they get out of it.”

Nominees, winners and supporters made up the 60-strong crowd who attended the awards at the Lake Wānaka Centre’s Armstrong Room, and included live music from MAC band ‘Superficial’.

PHOTOS: Kahu Youth