Media Release
January 27 2010
Student rewarded for orphanage project
Not
many 22-year-olds volunteer to spend their spare time raising money for
an overseas orphanage let alone become the founder of an international
aid organisation. But Tessa Henwood-Mitchell is determined to help a
group of orphans and blind children she cared for in Bolivia as part of
an exchange for her UniSA double degree in International Studies and
Social Work.
Tessa has been recognised for her efforts, being named the City of
Adelaide's 2010 Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year.
Tessa visited Bolivia from June to October in 2008 through UniSA’s
Hawke Ambassador International Volunteer Experience, and upon
returning she set about establishing Tia International Aid, which has
now become an Incorporated Association. Since beginning her enterprise
in February, Tessa has raised more than $17,000 and recruited a team of
volunteers.
“Once I started thinking about setting up a program to help the orphans,
I couldn’t stop,” she said. “I got very attached to the children I was
working with.
“We have now been able to supply medical supplies to the orphanage,
Ciudadela Sedeges, which houses 83 children under the age of 14.
“We are also in the process of replacing the entire water system as
there is no running water to any of the buildings at the orphanage. I
went back last year in July to get the ball rolling on this.
“We have also funded a music program at a blind rehabilitation centre
called Manuela Gandarillas which works with 35 blind children. The
program has been running since April and the results are promising.”
Terry O’Callaghan, Associate Head of the School of Communication,
International Studies and Languages, nominated Tessa after seeing her
dedication to the project throughout the past year.
“The Hawke Ambassador experience is extremely challenging for students
and a lot follow up on a project they started when they come back home,”
Associate Professor O’Callaghan said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime
experience for students and it has a fairly significant impact on them
all.
“Tessa has worked particularly hard at setting up the charity, and is
someone to be admired.”
About 20 UniSA students take part in the Hawke Ambassador program each
year, living with a host family in a third-world country for three to
six months.
More information about Tia International can be found out www.tia.org.au. Tessa said they are always on the lookout for more volunteers and the next fundraiser is on March 6 at the Capri cinema.
Media contact
- Katrina Kalleske office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457 email katrina.kalleske@unisa.edu.au