Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with ISV in New Zealand?
Kerri: I first heard about ISV through my university. They send student representatives to lectures at the University of Manitoba as well as many other schools in North America. This was a 2 minute presentation that got me thinking about volunteering abroad. I also have a friend who had travelled with ISV in Australia. After looking into ISV's website, the volunteer opportunity in New Zealand caught my eye but the adventure activities possible in New Zealand would make it a trip of a life time.
Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
Kerri: I volunteered in Tawharanui Regional Park, north of Auckland. My job was labelled as a conservation job, but prior to going I had little idea of what that would entail.
Our general day is as follows: We would wake up at 6:30-7 am, prepare breakfast and our lunches for the day. Waking up at that time was not required but the sunrises each morning were unique from the previous day and completely breathtaking. We would meet with our volunteer coordinator and the Park Ranger. We would then discuss the day's goals and be briefed on the purpose of our work (relating to kiwi bird safety or to help remove unwanted rodents from the park) as well as any safety precautions.
Our work was different each day which was nice, that have some change. We removed trees that were encroaching on a predator fence, removed barbed wire that posed a threat to kiwi birds, helped prepare from a community tree planting day, built 2 solar panels, planted around 10,000 trees along with the aid of the community as well as a few other jobs around the park. The days were tiring but the jobs that we did were fun and required some physical exertion.
By the end of the day we were all quite tired but were required to have group discussions related to conservation and sustainability. After the day's work was finished we walked over to the beach to watch the sun set then got back to the volunteer house to cook dinner. Nights ended early but we often spent them watching the stars and chatting with our fellow volunteers and newly made friends.
On the weekends we were able to hike the trails around the peninsula, catch up on sleep or take a ride into a nearby town called Matakana. On Saturdays, Matakana was alive and busy with a farmers market, cafes and shops.
What made this experience unique and special?
Kerri: Tawharanui is by far the most beautiful place I have been to. I went in New Zealand's winter but the entire park was green and lush. Working in a place that seems removed from the rest of the world where the beauty of nature is magnified, made working there such a pleasure. New Zealander's are truly passionate about conservation and adjusting to sustainable life, making it the perfect place do to this type of volunteer work. On the community planting days we were able to interact with different locals who were all more than friendly.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Kerri: After spending 2 weeks volunteering at Tawharanui, I definitely live back home in a way that is more conscious of the environment. Living minimally at the volunteer house (no dryer for the washing machine and no plastic bags for groceries) has translated to every day life. I try to make sure I use energy efficiently, compost whenever I can and minimize waste products such as plastic bags. In a professional sense, I believe my volunteer experience will give me a degree of uniqueness in Medical school applications.
One of the best parts about volunteering with ISV was that at the end of the two week volunteer period we then proceeded to experience a 2 week adventure tour. This included sky diving, bungee jumping, underground caving, zorbing, white water rafting and many other things. Each on of my experiences in New Zealand were unbelievable and make me want to return as soon as possible.