Gisborne Boys' High School students extend a helping hand to the Stroke Foundation and beyond

The Boys’ High students getting stuck in, cleaning up tracks at the Whinray Reserve. It is one of a number of volunteer activities they have taken part in, in a course developed by teacher Cindy Gilbert. Picture supplied

Gisborne Boys’ High School students have been busy learning new skills and helping out in the community, with the Stroke Foundation just one of the organisations to benefit from their help.

“They learn skills that they don’t learn anywhere else.  It’s teaching practical skills and responsibilities,” says Cindy Gilbert, Assistant Head of Department of Humanities and Year 12 Dean.

The students have helped to tidy up tracks in the Department of Conservation Whinray Scenic Reserve near Motu, and collected funds on the streets of Gisborne for Amnesty International.

They researched current global situations and chose Amnesty, the human rights organisation, sharing their knowledge with the public.

Key factors in their learning were to interact with strangers — encouraging the students to open up, talk and smile while sharing their information.

“A couple of the students  are a bit shy, and that’s why, where they have to talk to people it is good for them. They had a great time,” Ms Gilbert said.

They also turn up every week to the Stroke Foundation, where some boys have put their practical skills to good use and baked for a morning tea spread, while others assist with the exercise programme.

The activities are part of a course developed by Ms Gilbert, which involves students completing 20 hours of volunteer work and following on with work experience. The course fits into the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) for secondary school students. It also takes in the Licence to Work programme offered through Youthtown, a not-for-profit organisation that undertakes developing skills for students  to succeed in the workplace. Working with Gill Higgins, the Youthtown regional programme coordinator, the students learn helpful practical skills like finding out about the job process, or their rights and responsibilities as a renter and becoming more financially literate.

Ms Gilbert said the boys had made some “pretty neat connections”, while volunteering at the Stroke Foundation.

“(These are) people who have suffered a head injury or stroke;  a couple are ex-teachers who have really loved to reconnect with thatworld again, who unfortunately haven’t been able to before now,” Ms Gilbert said.

“The boys have gained significant confidence through this engagement,” she said.

“The relationships are of a reciprocal benefit and it is wonderful to see people of different ages and experiences enjoying each other’s company,” she said.

“We went out to Motu, because I’ve got a few farm boys in the class and I said to everyone, ‘We are going to do a couple of farm activities but we will do some town activities too’, and honestly I was a bit nervous, but they have taken to it like ducks to water,” Ms Gilbert said.

Future volunteering plans are to spend a day planting and docking at a Whangara farm.

“The guys have just been extraordinary; I’ve been so proud,” she said.