Each year, ALF brings together a diverse group of young adults, aged 18-26, who are nominated by someone who believes in their leadership potential. Over four days, participants engage in discussions on leadership, exploring how values and faith play a role in shaping character and leadership across different areas, including community, arts, business, politics, and sport.

Congratulations to the Rochester and Rutherford Hall residents who recently received their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards at a special ceremony in Christchurch.

Abigail Rae is a vibrant and dedicated Community Representative at Rochester and Rutherford Hall. Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Canterbury, Abi is majoring in Environmental Policy Governance and Social Justice. This unique degree, offered only at the University of Canterbury, drew Abi from Saint Mary’s College in Auckland to Christchurch. Abi’s passion for sustainability and love for the outdoors are the driving forces behind her academic and personal life.

A group of five first-year university students from Rochester and Rutherford Hall are preparing to make a meaningful impact on their local community. United by their passion for physical challenges and a shared desire to give back, these students—Jono Pinckney, Ben O’Sullivan, Marco Kraayenhof, Zara Mackley, and their Resident Assistant Josh Earnslaw (Ernie)—have committed to walking for 40 hours from the Akaroa Peninsula to Christchurch.

Kaia Buckley's journey in volleyball began in Y9 at Rangitoto College. By Y11, she had risen to the role of captain for the senior A team, a position she proudly held from 2021 to 2023. Her leadership was instrumental in guiding the team to their first national title at the school nationals in 2023, a crowning achievement that reflected her dedication to her team and skill on the court.

Maddie Meech and Gemma Davidson are both in their first year of Engineering at University of Canterbury and a recent project has bought them together. Maddie, who is considering Mechanical and Gemma Civil Engineering, used their combined knowledge to create a solution to a well-known challenge of waste in Pu Ngaol, Cambodia.

Born and raised in Mount Maunganui, Luke McConnell enjoys the opportunity to participate as a World Freeride Skier, where he recently competed on the slopes of Austria, placing first in the Mens U18 top riders’ category at the Pointe de Sesale in Bruson.

Music has always come naturally to William Squire, who has been told he was singing before he could speak. His Father is currently the Chair of the New Zealand Board for Choral Directors and Conductor of the New Zealand Youth Choir. Music has never been forced and has provided many rewarding experiences through education, performance and opportunities to travel internationally. William will always remember a special choir performance at the St Peter’s Basilica for Sunday Mass and winning an international competition in Florence Italy.

Melissa kick-started karate as a five year old and two years later began competing. With no other girls to fight against, Melissa dominated Boys divisions and at only aged 10, became National Champion and was selected to compete at the Commonwealth Champs in Canada where she brought home a bronze medal.

Ambitious, charismatic, and inspiring young Rosie Leishman defies traditional university life through balancing commendable grades, a busy social life and filming for a feature film set to be released in 2023.

The Student Volunteer Army’s latest initiative is Laundry! Residents in Christchurch who are living near the damaged wastewater plant can now get their washing dry for free without the permeating smell mixing in.

The SVA will pick up washed laundry from the homes of people affected by the smell coming from the Christchurch City Council’s fire-damaged wastewater plant in Bromley and bring it back dry and smell-free.

Kia ora! We’re Castaway, a band founded as freshers in the R+R Rec Room. We came from 5 different places across the North and South Island of Aotearoa and all ended up in Wilson house (hence the name, Castaway) in 2018. Rhys and Jackson lived on the first floor; Joe, Jack, and Austen lived on the third floor. As musicians do, we gravitated towards each other like magnets. Jam sessions in each other’s rooms happened naturally, and we found we had a unique chemistry and got on really well. We certainly kept the hall up late at night, but those impromptu hangouts quickly turned into practices which flowed to us getting gigs in the uni scene, and that laid the foundations for our adventures as Castaway.

If you're a keen gardener and want to up your sustainability game, Kaitlyn Lamb has a passion for composting and wants to show you how. Kaitlyn is a first-year environmental science students at the University of Canterbury and is fitting a lot into her day. On top of her studies, she also volunteers at the university's Waiutuutu Community Garden. Kaitlyn will be implementing a new compost system at Rochester and Rutherford Hall which will then help to sustain our surrounding gardens.

Sophie Clarke is a Residential Tutor at R&R and the 2022 SVA President. She is a motivated leader and champion in volunteer service. There are incredible opportunities to volunteer with the SVA this year. Follow @uc_sva to keep up with what's on.

You can also check out the recent report on why young people volunteer and what they gain from the experience. You can access the full research report here #SVA2022