Macleans College Student is Selected for National UNICEF Role

UNICEF Youth for Change NZ raises funds and awareness for UNICEF, a United Nations organisation dedicated to helping children in need all around the world. This network, which runs through schools and youth groups all over New Zealand, has a specific focus on raising funds for those affected by the tragedies of natural disasters, recently in particular for the Nepalese Earthquake crisis, as well as for children displaced by war.

As a youth director, Helen (Te Kanawa House) will be responsible for co-ordinating the works of UNICEF Youth in Auckland and the Upper North Island, its largest region. As part of the role she will be working closely with each of the 17 school clubs, setting goals with club leaders and working with them to achieve their plans. She will assist in helping them organise individual fundraisers and campaigns that they may want to do within their own schools or their local community.

At a regional level she will be working to coordinate and promote interclub events such as the annual Walking for Water event. UNICEF places huge value on the development of youth leadership and lifelong passion for service and Helen will also be responsible for growing the network of UNICEF clubs in Auckland by providing training and resources which will allow more students to access the UNICEF Youth network.

Helen is a Year 12 student at Macleans College who is currently the leader of the Macleans UNICEF Club along with students Mary Wei (Mansfield), Isabella Meltzer (Rutherford) and Audrey Jian (Batten). Helen was one of the four lead organisers for the National UNICEF Youth for Change 2016 Conference that was held in Canterbury and attended by around 100 students.