About SVA

Our origin

On September 4th 2010, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Canterbury, New Zealand, causing widespread damage - particularly in the city of Ōtautahi Christchurch. In the wake of the disaster, 11,000 students mobilised to help with the clean-up - coordinated by our founder, Sam Johnson.

This was the beginning of the Student Volunteer Army.

Today, SVA is a network of tens of thousands of volunteers driven by a desire to help their communities. Our programmes at primary, secondary and tertiary education levels empower youth through volunteering; cultivate a lasting culture of service; and build resilient, connected communities.

Together, we show up for the big events. We have evolved to become leaders of second wave crisis response, helping communities recover after disaster. Over the past decade, SVA volunteers have supported clean-up and recovery after eight national crisis events - from collecting and delivering groceries during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 to operating major clean-up operations after the Auckland Anniversary weekend floods, closely followed by Cyclone Gabrielle, in 2023.

Our mission

Our mission is to:

  • Empower rangatahi with the skills, passion and confidence that is gained through volunteering;

  • Cultivate a culture of service that will last across generations; and

  • Build resilient communities that are connected and ready to respond when crisis hits.

  • Grow generations that know themselves, know their people and show up to help

    Through our actions, we set an example for rangatahi to be their best selves, look out for others and come together as a force for good.

  • Build the next generation of community

    Every situation we commit to is an opportunity to put something right in the world. Through our programmes, rangatahi are empowered and enabled to change the world in front of them every day – whether it’s mowing a neighbour’s lawn or taking action to reverse the effects of climate change. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals underpins our work, providing a framework that connects individual volunteers to a global movement.

  • We play to our strengths

    We maximise our collective potential by embracing individual strengths, nurturing them to their fullest and leveraging them to achieve excellence in every action we take.

    We connect with intent

    We forge genuine connections driven by empathy and purpose, which underpins our shared journey toward greater understanding and impact.

    We inspire meaningful action

    We design and deliver programmes that empower individuals to take purposeful, impactful steps toward a brighter future, enabling a collective movement for change.

    We show up to help

    We embody a culture of unwavering support, actively seeking opportunities to lend a hand and elevate others, whenever and wherever it's needed.