‘Free hugs’ is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, a man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives. In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.
Freehugs troops are now mobilising all over the globe. From Sydney to Helsinki. From LA to Tokyo, from London and Paris. To find out when a free hug event is organised in your area, check out the campaign website here.
www.habitat.org.nz
What do they do?
Habitat for Humanity is an international not-for-profit organisation. The ultimate goal of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the face of the earth by building adequate and basic housing. Habitat for Humanity in New Zealand is a not-for-profit Christian organisation that works in partnership with people of goodwill and families in need, to eliminate sub-standard housing by building and selling simple, decent houses on an affordable basis.
How can I get involved?
Locally:
Volunteering for house builds - There are 11 Habitat for Humanity “affiliates” (branches) throughout New Zealand, from Northland to Invercargill. House builds take place throughout the year, dependent on land availability and building consent.
Assisting with fundraising - Habitat for Humanity encourage individuals and volunteers to come up with innovative and fun ways to work together with the community to raise further funds for their activities. If you would like to run an event or create personal challenges that will raise funds, contact your local affiliate.
Assisting with administration at your local affiliate – Volunteers can help in a range of different ways, not just on the building site! They need people that can assist with fundraising, catering for events, general administration, and all sorts of things. If you have a skill and some time that you think they may be able to make use of, go and check them out – they’d love to see you.
Globally:
Global Village Trips - This is where teams of volunteers visit countries in need and help build houses in the local communities. Global Village teams bring invaluable support to the communities they visit. More homes are built each year because of the donation Global Village teams make to the host community. You do not need prior building experience. If you have a sense of adventure, are in good health and willing to work hard, you can be part of a Global Village team! Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or be part of an organized school, faith or service group. If you would like to join an existing team as an individual, check out the Global Village Trip Schedule and contact the team leader.
www.conservationvolunteers.org.nz
What do they do?
Conservation Volunteers New Zealand is a leading practical conservation organisation. Conservation Volunteers completes more than 100 conservation projects across New Zealand each year.
How can I get involved?
Volunteer! – If you want to help preserve and restore New Zealand’s beautiful environment, this should be your first stop. Projects have included assisting with the ecological restoration of the Hunua Falls, the construction of walking and bike tracks, surveying the endangered Whio (Blue duck) and assisting with maintaining a Kiwi enclosure.
Volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, and don’t need any prior skills or experience. You’ll receive the training you need to complete the project you’re working on.
