Hannah recently moved to Waitati in the Blueskin Bay area from the UK and was approached to help with the Dunedin Mid Winter Carnival. Hannah is a talented musician and in the months leading up to the carnival she runs a free drumming workshop for local young people at Warrington school. These young people then form a group that has become a regular feature of the carnival. It has been through Hannah’s involvement and passion that young people first got involved in the parade and she has worked closely with the organisers to make sure the whole event considered the needs of children.
Hannah’s passion is building confidence in kids, and she feels she has found a volunteer role that uses her talents to achieve this. “A lot of these kids couldn’t afford music classes, so with drumming they not only get introduced to the basics of rhythm, they also get to do this as part of a group working together. The kids help with everything from making the drums to the costumes. It’s been amazing to see kids who have never performed before now have to confidence to go out in front of a crowd and have fun, it’s really a year-long project leading up to the big nights performance ”.
Asked why she started volunteering and her experience to date Hannah said “I was new to New Zealand from the UK and it was a great way to get to know my neighbours and the music community as well. The organisers of the Carnival are fantastic, they not only feed the volunteers at pre and post meetings, everyone also gets a personalised thank you card. There is no hierarchy between the organisers and volunteers. I feel my voice, opinions and feedback are really valued and taken on board, they put in place changes I have suggested over the past few years and I feel like I am having able to bring the voice and needs of the young people into the planning of the festival”.
