An independent organisation is seeking volunteers from the community for its programme to support victims in the society.
Victim Support Auckland City has just run a volunteer recruitment campaign, hoping to enlist good response from the Indian community.
A number of Wellington based creative organisations reportedly donated $100,000 for the campaign focusing on the victims of crime or trauma.
Marketing & Communications Manager Emily Marden said a chance meeting with Creative Directors Ollie Langridge and Tim Hall led to the campaign.
“It was a concept developed for a worthy cause and attracted a number of important people in the industry. These included technical wizards from ‘Park Road Post’ (owned by Peter Jackson) and actors. This was the highest speed shoot ever to take place in this country,” she said.
Auckland West Service Coordinator Shanta Millikin said Victim Support needed at least 1000 volunteers from various cultural groups including Maori and Pacific Islanders. Selected persons will be trained in April, she said.
Auckland City volunteer Jenny Fong said members of the Asian communities were increasingly becoming victims of crime and trauma.
“Asians make up a large proportion of New Zealand’s population and we have been receiving many calls from people of Asian origin. It is important to provide support that is culturally sensitive,” she said.
Local volunteer Yuthika Girme agreed.
“There is a need to recruit volunteers from the Indian community. This is an important aspect of providing the right support for people,” she said.
Auckland Service Coordinator Sam Tuaoi said, “It takes a special kind of person to become a Victim Support Volunteer. All cases are different and hence we make sure that volunteers are trained to deal with every possible situation,” he said.
Victim Support is a nationwide community organisation, providing round-the-clock service. If you are a victim of any form of crime including family violence, please contact Victim Support on 0800-865868. Email: help@victimsupport.org.nz
Website: ww.victimsupport.org.nz.
