As a Telethon7 beneficiary, we are invited each year to be part of the APM Charity Zone, joining other service providers and organisations to offer the community activities and fun, and show our gratitude for their generous support.
Joined by young people from our Youth Reference Group, the team spent the day celebrating and chatting with the community. The APM Charity Zone was filled with contagious energy and excitement, with street performers and a constant buzz from the young people and families passing through.
Our community engagement team organised two activities for the day. The first invited young people and their families to write down something that makes them happy and add it to our growing Chain of Happiness, a reminder of the many things, big and small, that bring joy to our community. By the end of the day, the chain filled our stall with colour.
For the second activity, we offered those passing by a Family Polaroid memento. We took a quick photo and gave them the chance to decorate a magnet or keychain to take home as a reminder of the day. Many were taken home as gifts for a parent or grandparent.
“The activities are always fun, but they are also a good way to start meaningful conversations with parents or young people passing by the stall. They give us the opportunity to remind people of the services available for themselves, their children or their friends, if they ever need someone to talk to,” shared Nina, Community Engagement Officer.
“A moment that stood out for me was with an eight-year-old boy who wrote ‘giving money to sick kids’ on his ‘what makes you happy?’ paper chain. His mum teared up, and I took the opportunity to talk to them more about this, touched by his reflection. His mum shared that the previous week, the boy had received $200 of birthday money to buy himself toys, but instead he decided to donate it all to Telethon. I was able to show him just how special his generous decision was, sharing that these donations help us to support young people. We talked about how we can help people who feel sad, overwhelmed or scared feel happy again, and he really connected with this.”
We are so grateful to be a Telethon beneficiary, and in awe of another record-breaking total, thanks to the incredible generosity of the people of WA.
