Irushi's Epic Ride with SADD: Making a Real Difference!
From Newbie to Leader: How It All Kicked Off
Meet Irushi! She rocked up to Christchurch Girls High School in Year 12 and dived straight into SADD (Students Against Dangerous Driving). She started as just a member but seriously put in the work. By Year 13, everyone was like, "Yeah, she's the one!" so she took the lead. What got her hooked? She was just signing up for cool clubs, and SADD popped up. Plus, her chemistry teacher was in charge, so bonus points for good vibes! Even though she was new and a Year 12 surrounded by older kids, she jumped in and helped the group make some serious noise at school.
The SADD Packs Project: A Total Game-Changer
One of Irushi's biggest wins was the SADD packs project. The idea was super clever: get the club noticed AND spread the word about staying safe on the roads. These packs were loaded with awesome stuff, mostly thanks to some cool sponsors who believed in what SADD was doing.
They focused on Year 12 students because, let's be real, that's a key age where things can get a bit risky on the road. Handing out between 150 and 200 packs was no small feat! Irushi and her crew spent hours after school and at home putting them together. Then, they’d hit up each Year 12 class bright and early before school, giving quick talks and dishing out the goods. To make them extra fun, the packs had lollies, ice scrapers, mini torches (from Fire and Emergency!), magnets, and those super popular phone holders.
And boom! Everyone was talking about them. Year 12s, which is a huge group, were showing off their torches and chatting about the packs. It wasn't just about awareness; it totally helped SADD get new members, especially from Year 12. Even teachers jumped in to help pack and kept the road safety convo going in class.
The best part? It barely cost a thing! They mostly just splurged on lollies and some printouts. Everything else, including the packs themselves, came from SADD and those awesome sponsors. It just took a whole lot of time and effort from Irushi and her team.
Level Up Your Life: How SADD Boosted Irushi
Irushi says being part of SADD was a massive game-changer for her. Before SADD, she hadn't really been a leader at school and it was tough meeting people in a new country. But SADD changed everything:
She got recognised around school.
She made awesome new friends and felt way more confident.
Her public speaking skills went through the roof, especially talking in those big school assemblies.
It opened doors to other opportunities, even leading to an award! Seriously, SADD connected all the dots for her.
She's all about speaking up for what you believe in. For Irushi, road safety is personal. Coming from Sri Lanka, where road safety isn't always a priority, she saw how different things were here. She hopes to take what she learned in SADD back home and help make roads safer there too.
Irushi's Top Tips for Making a Difference
Irushi's got some golden advice for any student groups out there:
Find your niche, don't just follow the crowd: Instead of joining the most popular clubs, find something important that maybe not everyone's talking about yet, like road safety. That's where you can really make an impact!
Youth leading youth works wonders: When young people teach other young people, it just clicks. Get your friends involved, especially those who are well-connected, and watch the interest grow.
Plan it out, seriously! Irushi swears by having a "Year Plan." The school year flies by, so planning out your activities keeps you on track. Even chill weekly meetings help you keep ideas flowing and get stuff done.
Keep the convo going: One-off events are cool, but for real impact, you need to keep talking about it. Physical things like those SADD packs help remind people and spark more chats.
Irushi's story proves you don't need a massive budget to make a huge difference. All it takes is some dedication, smart planning, and the power of young people helping each other out!