Growing the next generation of volunteers in New Zealand schools


SVA Skills is our campaign to mobilise, engage and support a new generation of volunteers. Our programme is free thanks to the generous support by Citycare Property and Citycare Water, and has over 32,000 tamariki across Aotearoa taking part each year and is delivered in partnership with School Kit.

At SVA, we believe that anyone – no matter their age, experience or skills – can be a volunteer.

How it works

The aim of SVA Skills is to enable primary school students, with the help of their teachers, to identify a need in their community and come up with an initiative to help. This may be a one day event or an ongoing project.

By creating and delivering their own initiative, students learn project management skills linked to the NZ Curriculum such as:

  • Taking collective action for the care of other people
  • Understanding how to participate collectively in response to community challenges
  • Undertaking planning to develop an outcome



SVA provides a magic box of volunteering that contains all the things students and their teachers need to create their own volunteering project. Read some of the great testimonials from our teachers and classes that have already tried them out.


Get free resources



SVA in partnership with School Kit, provides a magic box of volunteering that contains all the things students and their teachers need to create their own volunteering project. Read some of the great testimonials from our teachers and classes that have already tried them out.


Get free resources

Sponsor a school

SVA Skills is provided as a free resource to teachers and students who want to give back to their community. Along with a kit, the class receive an in person visit and ongoing support.

Each year our programme ‘sells out’ within days of registration opening. With your support we can make sure no school misses out on the opportunity to engage, educate and inspire the next generation of budding volunteers.

Sponsor a school today – just $100 will equip a classroom of 32 kids with the tools and guidance to solve a problem in their backyard, and invest in their future.

Donate now

The SVA Volunteer Action Kit

To receive your free volunteer action kit all you need to do is register your classroom. Registration opens in term one, with boxes being sent out in time for term two. Our boxes are updated each year, but will always include:

  • 32 job based badges to ensure everyone has a role and responsibility
  • A guide on how to find a project, build a team and operate an incredible volunteer day
  • A fact sheet outlining all the secrets behind how SVA runs their volunteering projects, and how the big kids at University make it happen
  • A pack of project cards which include checklists, job descriptions and project ideas – everything students need to complete their project
  • Health and safety letter for schools

By registering you will automatically get access to a full suite of downloadable PDF resources, as well as be first in line for the classroom kits. The SVA Volunteer Kit is delivered in partnership with School Kit,

Get free resources

The SVA Volunteer Action Kit

To receive your free volunteer action kit all you need to do is register your classroom. Registration opens in term one, with boxes being sent out in time for term two. Our boxes are updated each year, but will always include:

  • 32 job based badges to ensure everyone has a role and responsibility
  • A guide on how to find a project, build a team and operate an incredible volunteer day
  • A fact sheet outlining all the secrets behind how SVA runs their volunteering projects, and how the big kids at University make it happen
  • A pack of project cards which include checklists, job descriptions and project ideas – everything students need to complete their project
  • Health and safety letter for schools

By registering you will automatically get access to a full suite of downloadable PDF resources, as well as be first in line for the classroom kits.

Get free resources