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Kelvin raises community awareness for school mentoring program

3 November, 2021

UWA graduate Kelvin Ramdhun has helped raise awareness and support for community programs that provide school children with mentorship opportunities to build resilience and confidence.

Kelvin, who has just graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce specialising in Marketing and Finance, undertook a McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship at not-for-profit organisation 12 Buckets during his final semester as a way to contribute to the WA community, having moved to Perth from Mauritius to study three years ago.

“When my friend told me about this opportunity to give back to the community while also getting work experience, I instantly knew that I wanted to apply for an internship with the McCusker Centre for Citizenship,” said Kelvin.

12 Buckets is a grassroots Perth-based not-for-profit organisation that provide opportunities for school children to build confidence and resilience through mentorship.

Kelvin supported 12 Buckets by planning, creating and monitoring social media and other digital communication materials to help the organisation find more volunteers and donations to sustain their projects.

“The most rewarding element of my internship was knowing that I was helping the students by raising the community’s awareness about 12 Buckets and informing them on the mentoring programs, and the different ways they can help change a child’s life,” said Kelvin.

“This organisation is doing amazing work, helping local children to flourish regardless of their backgrounds and circumstances,” he said.

Despite juggling his internship with the final units of his degree and part-time work, Kelvin persevered with the support of his supervisor and the 12 Buckets team to gain meaningful lessons and insights into the not-for-profit sector.

“[The internship] mainly opened my eyes to the impact that a group of individuals can have on others if they come together. As a community, we should look at what we can bring to the table and help to the best of our ability,” said Kelvin.

Kelvin says there is “no doubt” the internship has helped him hone his professional skills and creativity, and he is eager to continue his volunteer work post-graduation.

“I have always been socially engaged since I was young and will always try to serve the ones who are in need,” said Kelvin, who highly recommends the McCusker Centre for Citizenship internship program to other UWA students.

“There is no other unit that I could recommend more than the McCusker Centre internship at UWA. Most university units do not give a real-world experience, but the McCusker Centre closes this gap. It enables students to learn while getting relevant work experience in a professional environment,” he said.