Students stepping up to support refuge

A group of Otago tauira is calling on people to turn up and support an excellent cause at a series of fundraising events this month.

The Ōtepoti Dunedin Whānau Refuge Fundraising Committee is a University of Otago student-led group that organises a yearly fundraising appeal for the refuge.

The group is holding a range of events this month beginning with a designer sample sale this Saturday, which will be followed by an auction, a quiz night, and a bake sale later in the month. There will also be a charity gig at Errick’s bar in September, featuring music from the ’80s, ’90s and now.

Leading the fundraising project are Julia Newman, in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in international business, and Rebecca Bridgman, who is in her final year of a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in history.

“Last year our efforts helped contribute to the refuge being able to provide new beds, linen, clothes and a new tamariki space in their safehouses.” – Julia Newman

This is Julia and Rebecca’s second year heading the fundraiser, which last year raised nearly $67,000. One hundred per cent of the proceeds go to Ōtepoti-Dunedin Whānau Refuge (previously known as Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women's Refuge).

“The refuge does incredible work in our community to support women and children experiencing family violence. They provide advocacy, safehouses, necessities, and a variety of support services for those in need,” Julia says.

“Last year our efforts helped contribute to the refuge being able to provide new beds, linen, clothes and a new tamariki space in their safehouses.”

It always surprises her how enthusiastic and willing the community is to get involved, she says.

“It’s amazing to see how much our community and companies across Aotearoa are willing to donate to our cause, from a fridge from Fisher & Paykel, a designer bag, or to the extra $5 given at the bake sale. Every dollar counts.”

Julia is also impressed by how willing students are to volunteer to help organise and run the events. This year there will be about 65 students involved, the majority from the School of Law.

“The fundraiser is an organisation for law students to get involved in, but what tends to happen, especially for the sample sale and sometimes the auction, is our friends and flatmates hear about our initiative and end up getting involved at the events.”

Getting involved and meeting with some of the women working at the Ōtepoti-Dunedin Whānau Refuge, who take time to come in and talk with the volunteers before the events begin, is really valuable, she says.

“Especially for law students. I believe it brings a different sort of empathy and outlook, which I wouldn't have had the exposure to had I not been involved.

“I’ve learnt from the women working at Ōtepoti-Dunedin Whānau Refuge, that there is a wider range of domestic abuse apart from physical or financial, and that it can be anyone in our community who needs their services, from the lady down the street to the person sitting next to me in class.”

– Kōrero by Internal Communications Adviser Laura Hewson