Whangaparaoa teen helping his community through Duke of Ed Award

As we near the end four weeks in lockdown, positive stories continue to come in of the amazing activities Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award participants are doing around the country to support their communities.

Take Xavier from Whangaparaoa College – he’s been keeping really busy volunteering with Love Soup for his Award, an organisation who provides food to those in need without judgement.

Keen to stay fit during lockdown, Xavier is keeping up his fitness too.  Not only is he doing kickboxing with his trainer Linda (oriel@hbcmma) via Zoom calls, Xavier used his Kiwi ingenuity to build his own gym from anything he could find at home.  Being very goal driven, Xavier hasn’t let four weeks in lockdown hold him back.

“Being in self-isolation hasn’t stopped our determined young people from carrying on with their Award activities and doing what they can to help those in need,” says National Director Karen Ross.  “Also maintaining their fitness helps ensures their positive wellbeing in challenging times”.

“In any given week, Award participants give over 1,300 voluntary hours of service to communities around Aotearoa.  It’s something we’re really proud of, seeing Kiwi young people learning the importance of giving back through the Award”.