Student Volunteer Army

The University of Canterbury (UC) and The Student Volunteer Army (SVA) have a unique connection, with SVA’s journey beginning over ten years ago in response to the Canterbury earthquakes. Since then, the student group has grown to a national movement of young people being actively involved in their communities.

The UC SVA club continues to be one of the biggest student groups within SVA and on the University campus. UC is proud to support the SVA to make a positive difference, not only within the Ōtautahi Christchurch community, but across wider Aotearoa New Zealand.

SVA Student Experiences at UC

UC supports two areas of activity within SVA, the UC SVA Club, and SVA Service Awards.

Demand from students to feel valued and engaged in the world around them is suggested to be at an all-time high. Yet, neither traditional volunteering infrastructure, academic based community engagement or sport clubs alone can cater for the demand young people need to feel a greater sense of connection to other people and their community. The UC SVA Club ensures there is another option to complement the important ways the student community can ‘plug in’ to the world around them.

- Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Over the past two years, the SVA Service Awards have recognised and rewarded students for every type of service they undertake within their community - celebrating their service in places like their school, home, sport, church, and more. The SVA Service Awards applauds thousands of community minded young people at up to 300 schools around Aotearoa New Zealand.