Inland Otago Conservation Award finalist and Malcam
Charitable Trust Conservation Corps youth worker Michelle
Wilson talks to Sarah Marquet about the 12-week programme for
youth that has completed an "impressive array" of amenity
improvements.
What is it about the project/activity you are involved in
that got you interested and continues to interest you?
Malcam Charitable Trust conservation corps youth worker
Michelle Wilson group: (From left) PJ Shead, Michelle
Wilson, Syd Broadly, Patrick Macrae, Mark Harrison, Chelsea
Cuttris, Rob Raill, Sheerie Seque, David Foote, Kayling
Young, Marion Sutton, Josh Ritchie, Tabitha Comins. Inset:
(From left) Tabitha Comins, Josh Ritchie, David Foote and
Michelle Wilson painting the completed fence. Photo
supplied
Being offered this amazing project in St Bathans was
great for the group, with such a variety of tasks and the
opportunity to develop a sense of ownership of the project. I
enjoy working with the Department of Conservation on projects,
as they work alongside my students and offer them hands-on
experience.
How do the project/s you're involved in benefit
conservation?
The post office was built in the 1860s in the gold-rush era,
so this project was very much about conserving history and
restoring it for the benefit of the wider community.
What do you get out of your work in conservation, and how
do you fit it in?
I am a youth worker with the Malcam Charitable Trust. Our
programmes have assisted in the conservation of Dunedin and
Central Otago for the last 20 years.
My role is to offer our young people opportunities to get
involved in projects that they can have a sense of pride and
ownership in, as well as connecting with the community and
learning about conservation.
What challenges do you face and how have you overcome
them?
There aren't too many challenges; finding projects of value
that are supported by others is most important for me. Having
my students working alongside other community members is my
primary goal.
Many of our young people have learned a lot about
conservation and what that might mean in real terms in their
lives.
What would you like to do in the future, re
conservation?
I will continue to work with agencies such as the Department
of Conservation, Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust and Sinclair
Wetlands to undertake projects that protect and enhance the
environment and the flora and fauna that live in it.
[I will also] continue to offer our young people a chance to
make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of
others by contributing their time, energy and learning to
value the environment in our community.
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