World of Difference 2005 Graduates

Anna Powell � Successful Living Donor 2005

Cause: Oxfam International Youth Parliament

The Oxfam International Youth Parliament (OIYP) engages young people aged 18-25 from 92 different countries to make positive and lasting change in their communities. The global network of young social activists targets local issues ranging from HIV/AIDS to human rights, education, sustainable development, peace building, as well as labour and employment.

Anna Powell, a rowing coach and human rights volunteer, used Vodafone Australia Foundation World of Difference funding to spend 12 months working with members of OIYP from Australia and across the globe in a mentoring role.

Anna�s aim was to increase the success rate of the Oxfam International Youth Parliament projects across the globe through the development of young people�s education and leadership skills.

Anna now leads a team of six responsible for the youth engagement Program at Oxfam Australia.

Helen Smith � Successful Living Donor 2005

Cause: Can Do 4Kids

Hearing and vision impairments are a problem for some of Australia's smallest citizens - indigenous preschool aged children living on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of South Australia. In Australia's remote indigenous communities, these common childhood complaints often go undiagnosed and have more serious ramifications.

With the support of the Vodafone Australia Foundation, Adelaide speech pathologist Helen Smith worked with South Australian charity Can Do 4Kids to help raise awareness within the APY communities about identification, prevention and management of hearing and vision impairments. Helen used the financial and technological support of the Vodafone Australia Foundation to improve the hearing and vision status of children on the APY Lands.

Having completed her year with Can Do 4 Kids, Helen has since returned to speech pathology with a specific focus on the development of indigenous health.

Megan Jackson � Successful Living Donor 2005

Cause: The Oaktree Foundation

The Oaktree Foundation is a charity committed to improving the lives of young people through sustainable education initiatives in Australia and overseas. Oaktree was established in 2003, and now has a team of 2,400 supporters and volunteers across Australia, comprising of networks in high schools, universities, business and churches.

With the support of the Vodafone Australia Foundation, Megan Jackson spent 12 months working as a communication coordinator for The Oaktree Foundation. She oversaw the development of new branches of Oaktree in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, South Africa, USA and United Kingdom; and ensured there were smooth lines of communication between the Board, Executive Directors, Team Leaders and volunteer groups.

Upon finishing her year with The Oaktree Foundation, Megan went on to University to study International Humanitarian Law.

Nathan Males � Successful Living Donor 2005

Cause: Tasmanian Land Conservancy

The Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) has developed a unique solution to protecting Tasmania's endangered wildlife and habitats. The solution is practical, positive, non-political and accessible to the whole population: they buy it. Then they either retain and manage it for public recreation, or place protection orders on it before reselling to sympathetic owners.

Nathan Males, a conservationist from Fern Tree in Tasmania, has been involved with TLC from its inception in 2002, and used the World of Difference funding from the Vodafone Australia Foundation to work with the group full time in 2005.

Nathan�s primary goal was to help the TLC select a new reserve, develop a fundraising campaign to raise the capital to buy it, and invest for its long-term management.

Three years later, Nathan now heads up the Tasmanian Land Conservancy.