Four Australians Chosen to help the world
Vodafone Australia Foundation has identified the four Australians who will follow their passions in 2005 by spending a year working for their favourite charity - and get paid to do it – through the World of Difference program.
World of Difference is a unique community initiative dedicated to finding and funding passionate individuals with a desire to create positive change in the world.
A rowing coach from Sydney, conservationist from Hobart, lawyer from Melbourne and a speech pathologist from Adelaide will each receive a year’s salary, expenses, and the support of Vodafone mobile technology to use their skills and passion to make a real difference.
The four World of Difference winners include:
Megan Jackson, a 25 year old articled clerk* from Melbourne will spend the year as a communication coordinator at The Oaktree Foundation, a youth-led organisation dedicated to helping local and international communities fight poverty. [*Megan is due to be admitted to practice in April]
Helen Smith, a 39 year old speech pathologist from Adelaide, will be working with Can do 4 Kids - Townsend House to combat childhood hearing and vision impairments in one of South Australia’s most remote indigenous communities. She will focus on early diagnosis, prevention and education.
Anna Powell, a 24 year old rowing coach from Sydney will work with the Oxfam International Youth Parliament (OIYP) on a mentoring program for young people in the program. The mentoring initiative will foster the knowledge and leadership skills they need to deliver positive and sustainable social change on issues such as HIV/AIDS, human rights, education and sustainable development.
Nathan Males, a 30 year old conservationist from Hobart will work with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC). The TLC protects Tasmania’s natural resources by raising capital to purchase areas of environmentally significant private land. TLC then manages the land as public reserves or sells them to sympathetic owners under a protection order.
According to David White, Chairman of the Vodafone Australia Foundation, "We received more than 750 applications from across the country and were blown away by the number of Australians with a passion for the community."
"Anna, Megan, Nathan and Helen shone in their skill, enthusiasm and commitment to their chosen causes and I am confident that their charities will benefit enormously from the work they do over the year," he said.
The Vodafone Australia Foundation will work closely with the four winners, following their progress over the next twelve months.
About Vodafone Australia Foundation
The Vodafone Australia Foundation is a charitable trust funded by Vodafone Australia and Vodafone Group Foundation. In line with Vodafone’s core value of ‘passion for the world around us’, the foundation supports local charities and not-for-profit organisations. The Vodafone Australia Foundation also creates opportunities for Vodafone staff to contribute to the community, an initiative encouraged by Vodafone Australia.
