UOSLA recipients are joined by Otago staff and Canon representatives at celebrations for the 11th Otago University Student Leadership Awards, which wereheld in October. Photos: Lokyee Szeto
As the University of Otago Student Leadership Award (UOSLA) programme comes to an end, Laura Hewson talks with two of the 2024 recipients about what they gained most from giving.
What could possibly motivate a busy student to take on hundreds of hours of extra work?
For third-year student Yui Aoyagi, an existential dilemma was to blame.
“To put it simply, I was indulging in a 1/5 life crisis. I was flailing in finding purpose, which is typical, I think, for a 19-year-old with a habitual inclination to melodrama.”
Committing to a two-year journey of social change and volunteer initiatives as part of the University of Otago Student Leadership Award (UOSLA) seemed like a good way to “crawl out of a period of stagnation”.
The UOSLA is a leadership development programme that supports students in honing their skills to drive positive change. Participants complete a minimum of 170 service hours, attend leadership workshops, engage in reflective writing, and meet regularly with a mentor to deepen their learning.
Yui – who is pursuing a double major in genetics and social anthropology, with a minor in human geography – was one of 35 Otago tauira to receive their award at a special ceremony recently.
University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson presents Yui Aoyagi with her award. “Leadership isn’t about personal capacity. Instead, it's an exercise in compassion,” Yui says.
While she may have signed up for the award on a “whim”, Yui has always been interested in volunteering and working on community projects, she says.
“Volunteering instils in you a sense of responsibility, demands perseverance, and promises both perspective and experience.
“It's in others, not yourself, that you'll find the most strength and direction.”
For third-year tauira Rāwinia Wikaira (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai), signing up to complete the award started out as a pragmatic decision but soon turned into something bigger, she says.
“Initially, I was drawn to the award because I thought it would be great for my CV and because it would also help me structure, stay accountable, and keep track of my volunteering. However, during the programme, it opened up more opportunities than I could have ever imagined.”
Rāwinia, who is finishing a Bachelor of Arts and Science, majoring in Māori studies and ecology, found it deeply rewarding to be able to combine her leadership volunteer hours with her studies to help her marae plan ways to preserve their ecosystems.
“Knowing that my work can contribute to the health of our whenua and support te iwi Māori feels incredibly meaningful. Being involved in kaupapa that benefits our community has always been close to my heart.” – Rāwinia Wikaira
“As part of one of my bigger projects with the Award, I organised a weekend trip with other Māori rangatahi studying earth sciences to examine these ecosystems and explore ways my marae could survey them to gain more consistent information to better preserve them for our uri (descendants).”
The group then established key objectives, such as incorporating mātauranga Māori at every step, revitalising and incorporating local mātauranga into the ecosystem surveys, and ensuring that whatever they plan be beginner-friendly for whānau.
“This may evolve over the years, but it’s a start,” Rāwinia says.
Tauira Rāwinia Wikaira, pictured with her award, says being involved in kaupapa that benefits her community has always been close to her heart.
“Knowing that my work can contribute to the health of our whenua and support te iwi Māori feels incredibly meaningful. Being involved in kaupapa that benefits our community has always been close to my heart.”
Rāwinia’s mentor throughout the programme was Mariana Te Pou, the Kaituitui Wānanga (Science Wānanga Coordinator) at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
“Having someone who had been where I was and could offer wisdom and insight into approaching my next steps was incredibly valuable. It definitely had a tuakana-teina vibe.”
Students completing the UOLSA volunteer in a wide range of roles and organisations. Yui – who was born in Japan, grew up in the United States, East Africa, and the North Island before attending high school in Dunedin – has a particular fascination for multi-cultural and hybridised environments.
“There were moments of tenderness and friendship that I will forever cherish, like having honorary mothers and sisters throughout my refugee families who insisted I stay for dinner and then the night." – Yui Aoyagi
A large part of her volunteering hours were dedicated to the Red Cross where she worked as a Refugee Support Volunteer helping families settle into life in Dunedin.
“There were moments of tenderness and friendship that I will forever cherish, like having honorary mothers and sisters throughout my refugee families who insisted I stay for dinner and then the night.
“I spent hours with them giggling over Google Translate, exchanging makeup tips and cooking side-by-side in their kitchen.”
Yui also worked with the English Language Mentor Program and helped with a variety of Unicrew-led projects, such as Good Mahi and On Purpose.
“Being part of the Social Impact Studio was especially exciting as you're on the frontlines for any University-based, social change initiatives,” Yui says.
Social Impact Studio Manager Sze-En Watts says the students who complete the UOSLA are truly exceptional.
“They are compassionate, motivated, and visionary leaders who care deeply about making a difference.
“Their dedication to service, growth, and community impact has been inspiring to witness and I’m confident they’ll continue to be changemakers in whatever paths they pursue.”
Rāwinia and Yui learned a lot from their involvement in the programme, they say.
“My main takeaway was that both big and small projects have unique importance. At the end of the day, whether change is big or small, it’s still change,” Rāwinia says.
The most challenging learning experience was “Controversy with Civility” under the social change model segment, she says.
“I’ve always tended to avoid controversy if I can. Learning to approach controversial topics respectfully and civilly was a big adjustment. However, I realised that if I want to make change, I sometimes need to step into that discomfort.”
Yui has come away with a clearer sense of who she is, as well as what qualities make for a good leader, she says.
“Leadership isn’t about personal capacity. Instead, it's an exercise in compassion. Good leaders are kind; they understand that bonds are best built on mutual trust and affection.
"To work with others means understanding them as individuals, pinpointing their unique strengths, weaknesses, and how best to draw out the former.”
Yui’s mentor was Paul Enright, one of her former teachers at Logan Park High School, who she describes as “intimidatingly brilliant” and encouraging.
“Having someone who believes in your potential and advocates for your success is invaluable and provided me with the morale to keep working on my Award. He gave me that and more. For that I'm endlessly thankful.”
When it comes to the future, Yui will head to Melbourne on an Otago Global Student Exchange in semester 2 and hopes to be accepted into a postgraduate pathway at the University of Melbourne after that.
“My career trajectory is currently aimed at the development industry, which is founded on inter-disciplinary collaboration and negotiation of bureaucratic structures.
“I'll no doubt need these skillsets I've gathered from the Award experience and will extend them into the new environments and relationships I'll encounter.”
Rāwinia will finish her undergraduate degree in 2025 and is considering a Masters and eventually a PhD, she says.
“I’d like to work somewhere where ecological research is conducted with te reo Māori as the primary language. I could see myself working for an iwi entity.
“One of my main reasons for attending University was to support my whānau, hapū, and iwi, so I will definitely return to my ūkaipō to help my people.”
The UOLSA 2024 award ceremony marked 11 years for the programme, which has now come to an end.
Sze-En offered special thanks to Canon New Zealand, which was a valued partner of the UOSLA for the past five years, providing essential funding and support.
“With their support we’ve been able to craft transformative and impactful learning experiences that have inspired students to think differently about leadership and social impact, gain invaluable skills and make a real impact on their communities.”
While the UOSLA is ending this year, the Social Impact Studio remains dedicated to fostering civic-minded, community-engaged students, she says.
“We’re exploring new programmes and opportunities to continue building leadership skills for social change, ensuring that Otago students will always have a pathway to grow as community leaders.”
- For anyone interested in social purpose and leadership development, check out the Emerging Leaders Programme
- More about the Social Impact Studio