Wagga Wagga High School students Harris Eyles and Thanaphat Amphava are giving back to the local community through the school’s Enrichment Program. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
For 15 years, Year 10 students from Wagga Wagga High School have spent a week in the latter stages of term four giving back to their local community.
Known as the Enrichment Program, students volunteer their time for a range of different services, including creating hampers for people less fortunate, cooking food for the homeless, raising money for charity, and even holding a ‘Backyard Blitz’ to help one local clean up their yard.
This year, the theme for the program is ‘Be the reason’, with all money raised throughout the week going to the Leukaemia Foundation.
Organiser of the Enrichment Program and careers advisor at Wagga Wagga High School, Anne Fellows, said the week was about students giving back to their school and community while also serving as a fun period before students took on the HSC.
“Finishing Year 10 is an interesting time,” she said.
“With Enrichment Week, they get to finish Year 10 exams and things before moving forward and getting ready for Year 11 and 12, or leaving school by giving back to the community.
“We’re doing cooking for charity, creating hampers for families in need and making Christmas presents for aged care residents.
“We’re doing an art mural for a group in the community, and for one man, we’ve even done a Backyard Blitz-style clean-up.”
Student Zahli O’Brien said she and her fellow students were excited to give back to the community after a long period of studying.
“It feels really productive to do something like this now that exams are over,” she said.
“It has really taught us that even little things can really help out the community.
“Right now, we are making hampers for the community people who are currently struggling, especially around Christmastime, and they’ll be going to Ronald McDonald House.
“Some other students have been cooking and doing other things like that. It’s been a really fun week.”
Fellow student Jagadish Kotikalapudi said participating in things like the Enrichment Program made him really proud to attend Wagga High School and served as a relaxed way to wrap up the school year.
“It’s a great learning experience; it’s a full week of hanging out with your friends, socialising and getting really valuable information and advice from all these amazing people around the community,” he said.
“For some of us, there is a bit of stress moving into Year 11 next year, knowing that we’re going to be starting our HSC.
“Doing something like this really takes our minds off of that while also letting us do something nice for others.”
Wagga Wagga High School’s Enrichment Program runs from 24 – 28 November.
