Love, Jessie

Ko Jessie Manning tōku ingoa. In my first year at the University of Otago I somehow ended up running across Sze-En and what was at the time, Unicrew Volunteers. In those early days the program was run out of one tiny room, and was initially a collection of volunteer roles in the Dunedin community promoted by the volunteer centre/unicrew. Over time students involved started suggesting their own ideas for roles/programme/events and the scope and scale of Unicrew Volunteers began to grow! 

I was involved as an intern alongside Amy Edwards, and then went on to join the Student Executive of Unicrew. My role at the time was everything from design to communications and event planning. I was particularly involved with the Dunedin Sleepout events, was also a participant in the Student Leadership Award, was involved with the planning for the 2016 Volunteer fair, and I edited the 2016 Unicrew Yearbook. The Sleepout event even won a New Zealander of the Year Awards Local Heros Medal in 2016! 

Without the mahi we did as part of Unicrew Volunteers, I would not be where I am today. Professionally, the Studio (Unicrew) gave me skills that I utilize every day in my work in the public sector including:

Graphic design, event planning and management, communication and social media, public speaking, branding and marketing, reporting and analysis, and a strong spirit of service. 

Personally, it gave me confidence in myself, and a support network during one of the most difficult times of my life. As someone who struggled with depression and anxiety particularly during my later years at uni, the community of friends in and around Unicrew Volunteers/The Social Impact Studio positively influenced my wellbeing and gave me a reason to get out of bed at a time when I was struggling, and it truly was one of the things that saved my life. 

The Sleepout event in particular remains one of the things I am most proud of being a part of, but I have many many good memories from my time spent with the Unicrew team. Sze-En in particular remains a role model and inspiration to me and many others. 

Putting my formal hat on for a second, Unicrew/the Studio has survived for many years off the back of the good will and hard mahi of students past and present. The value-add to the University is clear to me and I look forward to the University’s continued support of one of its most valuable offerings. 

Ngā mihi, Jessie Manning