Students from the Australian National University (ANU) took part in National Student Volunteer Week in August by planting 2,000 seedlings at the Cotter Dam and sleeping out in the cold to raise awareness of youth homelessness in Canberra.
Challenge, Change, Celebrate was the theme for the week in which the university partnered with the ANU Vinnies Club, Conservation Volunteers Australia and the International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences (AIESEC), to run events on and off campus.
During the week a group of students travelled with Conservation Volunteers Australia to the Lower Cotter Catchment for the plantings which aimed at controlling soil-laden storm water from washing into the Cotter Dam.
Masters of Engineering student, Alan Anthony volunteered on the day and encouraged others to join in.
“In a world inundated by materialistic obsession, I believe it is vital for students to learn at an early age the true value of community and how to make a real difference in the world,” Mr Anthony said.
First-year Politics, Philosophy and Economics student, Victoria Nguyen said sleeping in minus six degree temperatures was an eye-opening experience.
“When I signed up, I knew it wasn’t going to be a comfortable night but I genuinely didn’t expect it to be so challenging,” Ms Nguyen said.
“It’s one thing to imagine being out in the cold and another to live it, even if it’s just for one night.
“There were so many things I didn’t expect such as the people constantly walking past and the restlessness of wishing for the sun to come up.
She said despite the struggle, all the students agreed the experience was extremely insightful.
