• Shining Lights.
  • Albie Award.
  • Albie Prime Ministers Award.

Impact Projects at Albany Senior High School

- making connections and making an impact one letter at a time!

Albany Senior High School’s (ASHS) Impact Projects connect students with business, industry and community, including residents from neighbouring Settlers Lifestyle Village. Together they are working on a range of projects, including furniture-building, letter-writing, drama and computer skills. Below are just two examples of how ASHS students are using the power of letter writing to make a difference!

Shining Lights of Settlers - Yvette Bentley

For sixteen-year-old ASHS student Yvette Bentley it was all about getting out of her comfort zone, she says. “I have always been an introvert and found it difficult to connect with people. I knew from speaking with my grandmother that there was a digital divide between many elderly people and the younger generations, which got even worse during lockdown with so many people staying in their homes. I took up writing to the over-90-year-olds at Settlers. I wrote 12 letters a week and have continued ever since. I write about my life, the current news, what I am doing at school, my thoughts - anything to give and create a sense of connection. 

“I feel that those who haven’t kept up with the changes in technology can feel left behind and this can contribute to feelings of loneliness. You can learn so much from that if you just listen. It’s a whole life’s experience and it’s not just in their careers, but how they handle their emotions, their families and hearing their life stories. Next year I will be setting up a 2021 student committee to volunteer their time to help the elderly.” 

Ninety-two-year-old Dorothy Moller has been receiving weekly cards from Yvette. She says, “Yvette talks about her schooling and how she will be turning sixteen and getting her driver’s license. We are going to be meeting very soon and, in her letters, she mentions that she can’t wait to meet me, and I can’t wait to meet her. Her letters have been very important, especially during the lockdowns because it can become quite lonely, but seeing those letters from her cheered me up.”

Letter Legends - Albie Lockie

Continuing on the letter writing theme, Albie has set up a charitable organisation to support people who may be isolated and in need of emotional support to let them know they are cared about and supported through sending them unique handmade cards.

The project has evolved from its original intention of being a New Zealand version of UK charity Post Pals that supports chronically ill children, to something unique and beautiful that has the potential to touch and connect with isolated young and old New Zealanders. Albie has been working with local primary schools to make cards for residents in rest homes. But the most remarkable part of his project is working with VOYCE (a foster care advocacy network) to get cards out to foster children with the aim to impact every one of the six thousand foster children in New Zealand!

Aswell as taking out an Impact Project Gold Award at Albany Senior High School, Albie also won the 2020 Oranga Tamariki Prime Minister's Te Rakahinonga Auaha Creative Entrepreneur award which recognises the achievements of care experienced young people in New Zealand, who have overcome significant challenges to achieve amazing things. If you are keen to support check out his facebook page https://www.facebook.com/letterlegends