Volunteer Get Together

On Queens Birthday weekend the Lattitude team here in New Zealand organised a Dinner/Get together for all the volunteers in New Zealand. Many of the volunteers were able to attend, some travelling from as far away as Whangarei, Oamaru and Christchurch to make it. The volunteers are nearing the end of their placements and it was great to hear stories of their experiences so far and to see how close their friendships have become. We wish the volunteers all the best for the remainder of their time in New Zealand and their travel home. Thank you to everyone who attended for making the night a great success!

For more information about Lattitude visit our website here and The Lattitude New Zealand Blog here

News from South Africa

Below is a email we received from Alan, a teacher as well as a mentor for the volunteers at Kosi Bay School in South Africa. It is great to hear such fantastic feedback about our volunteers.

“Laura and Thomas were absolutely outstanding! They are a credit to their families, to their countries and to LATTITUDE. They both took their work so seriously, but were always cheerful and friendly to be with. They also were not pushed around, they were firm in their dealings with learners AND staff. Laura brought a mature, diligent demeanour with her each day and she was able to do amazing things with the kids. Thomas is a computer boffin and brought his superior knowledge and ability into practice daily in keeping our ailing, aging computers functioning.
Both did far more at our school than was ever asked and we thank them and LATTITUDE for their generosity. May ALL future placements be as good!!!! “

For more information about volunteering with Lattittude visit our website here and The Lattitude New Zealand Blog here

Volunteers in New Zealand

Here is a photo of Ben and Andrew with Mr Lindsay Carlton, Sports Coordinator. They have been volunteering at Palmerston North Boys’ High School and have had an amazing time.

For more information on how you can volunteer with Lattitude visit our website here and The Lattitude New Zealand Blog here

News from Charlotte in Canada

Hey,

I've been here in Canada at camp chief hector for a good month now! I'm absolutely loving it to bits!!! I've made some cool friends and had a million good times already!!! I'm not sure really what to write except I'm having a good time and haven't been homesick yet.

Thanks for the opportunity!

To find out more on how you can volunteer with Lattitude visit our website here and visit the Lattitude New Zealand Blog here

Lucy at the Edinburgh Sevens!

The photo is of Lucy, Emma, Georgia and Pip at the Edinburgh Sevens. All four girls are placed at schools in England.

To find out more about volunteering with Lattitude visit our website here and the Lattitude New Zealand Blog here

Focus on Community Work Placements- Tess in the UK

News from Tess who is at Calvert Trust - Kielder, a caring outdoor education placement in the UK.

Well where to start... 2 months has flown by already and I feel like I have been here for absolutely ages!!
Haven't missed home that much which is good but all I can say is thank god for Skype because I think I would be lost without it! My placement is amazing, the people that work here blow me away some days with their positive attitudes and they love working here, so it really rubs off on you. It helps when you are working with people who love doing what they are doing. Some of the guests we get here are just amazing, they bring you back down to earth. I mean we think we have a hard life or we have bad days and then I look at these guys and realise I really have nothing to be complaining about. I am really happy where I am and I would just like to say thank you to the amazing New Zealand Team that represent Lattitude, because you all have done and will continue to do a great job.
I have been exploring just a little bit, I want to do more but it is a matter of working it in with work and time off. I spent a weekend in Newcastle with other gappies and spent a week in London with family!
I hope all the preparations for the next load of volunteer's is going smoothly and that there are a lot of applicants.
I love taking a step back some days and realising where I am, and how I got here. I love knowing the good work I am doing here is paying off and really helping out people that need it.
The people I live with are crazy fun and keep me on my toes :) The aussie volunteer's are good fun too. Sometimes I wish I had another kiwi to chill with but it's good that I stay in touch with basically everyone I came over here with so I catch up with them when I can!

I am on a rotating roster, which includes Caring (Feeding, helping dress the disabled), Activities assistant (Pretty much leading activities, but I always have a more experienced person with me) and Domestic (Cleaning rooms, and servicing the center in which we work in). During the World Cup we have dedicated our sports hall to football. We have turned it into World Cup Village. Two flat screen TV's that are playing football all day. The room is decorated with flags from teams all over the world that are participating. A very happy and vibrant room all day long!! Although I am very isolated the scenery here is beautiful and there is always something for you to do. You just have to be willing to go on adventures sometimes, and not know your destination till you get there. It's all about making the most of your time here. That's what a gap year is all about.

You can't always rely on others to take you places, so to find your own type of transport is helpful. Biking is very popular in the forest.
It is very rewarding when you hear people saying they can already see a change in you. Imagine what you can get out of 8 months? Time is flying by, and it only felt like yesterday i was saying goodbye to my family at Christchurch Airport. Time flies when you are having fun! I can definitely say i will not look back with regret, Things can only get better from here.

Thanks Lattitude! :)

For more information visit our website here