Call for entries – Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship

Media Release

11 July 2013

Call for entries – Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship

The Vodafone New Zealand Foundation is offering a $90,000 grant for a leader in the youth sector to research ways of getting at-risk young people into education.

The Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship, in conjunction with SYHPANZ (Society of Youth Health Professionals Aotearoa New Zealand), is awarded annually to a promising youth sector worker to undertake study, research or a sabbatical to identify opportunities for increasing youth participation in learning or barriers that stop young people from learning.

This is the fourth year the grant has been offered, but the first year in which applications have been extended to practitioners outside the health sector.

Current Fellowship recipient, Whangarei nurse Bernie Hetaraka, is part-way through her Fellowship year researching youth governance models and models of youth-friendly services.

Bernie says the Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship has allowed her to step back from the day-to-day pressures of full-time work and concentrate on further developing her skills as a practitioner working with youth.

“The Fellowship has changed my life. It’s given me both local and national recognition not only for my work, but for the passion and commitment I have for working with young people.”

“My Fellowship year is allowing me to explore best practice youth governance overseas and use my learnings to assist with the development of our local Youth Space in Whangarei.”

Previous Fellowship recipients have researched diverse topics including improving the health needs of young people in the youth justice system, and the unique health needs of rural youth.

Vodafone Foundation Chair, Antony Welton says the Fellowship is an important part of the Foundation’s mission to enable healthy development and positive outcomes for young New Zealanders.

“We know that when young people are actively engaged in education, employment or training, they are much better equipped to positively contribute to society. We believe that by supporting research in this important area, along with supporting those working in the charitable sector with at risk young people, we will, over time, help reduce the long tail of underachievement in New Zealand.”

“This is a unique career opportunity for a specialist working within this important field and we strongly urge leaders in the youth sector to apply.”

The Vodafone World of Difference Fellowship sits alongside the Vodafone World of Difference which pays the salary and expenses of six people to work in the youth-related charity of their choice for a year.

ENDS

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