Volunteerism

Here at CIFWA we have a number of volunteers, they help out with many things. The youth volunteers run our peer education program and outreach activities.

Our governing board is made up of volunteers who lend their expertise to our policies and the way that our organization is run.

Even our staff members volunteer their time to conduct workshops outside of their working hours.

We know that without all of our volunteers we wouldn't be able to run as many programs as we do and for this we are always grateful.

Friday the 5th of December is International Volunteers day, a day when we recognize all that they do for us, a day where we take the time to thank them for their service.

CIFWA will of course be doing something special for our volunteers, but this year we wanted to extend our gratitude to recognizing other volunteers in our communities.

If you have a volunteer who you believe goes above and beyond and deserves recognition, fill out our application form and they have the chance to win one of our gratitude packs.

lets make this international volunteers day a special one.

Download the application form here

email application to cifwayouth20@gmail.com

New Year, New Me.

So 2021 is upon us, we have eaten far too much over the Christmas holidays, we celebrated with family and friends, and now the festivities are all done and dusted.

What happens now? The age old tradition of setting new years resolutions and attempting to achieve them? By February we have failed and moved on, silently agreeing not to discuss them till the next year rolls around.

But there is something a bit different about this one, its not quite the same as new years gone by, what makes this year different is what preceded it.

If there is one thing we can all agree on, its that 2020 was not the year for setting goals and achieving your dreams. If you made it out of 2020 intact, with your health and your sanity, you go ahead and chalk that one up as a win.

And now it is 2021, the Global pandemic is still raging, borders are still closed and economies lay in ruin. After almost a year of lockdowns, social distancing and separation, the bar has been set so low that we can dream small and that makes our goals more achievable.

At least we start this new year with hope on the horizon, a vaccine is starting to make the rounds and there is talk of a Cook Islands - New Zealand Bubble being established soon.

With that, We would like to wish you all a safe happy and prosperous new Year.

This year at CIFWA our resolution is to make sexual reproductive health and rights more accessible for you.

The holidays are here! Almost......

Although 2020 is drawing to a close, and we have about 6 weeks left till Christmas.

Although summer has finally shown up to the party and there is a feeling in the air of celebration, of family, of fun.

There is one thing that you need to get through before you can kick back and relax at the beach with your friends. That's right, final exams are here.

Exam time can be very stressful and in a year like this, with the added COVID 19 pressure it is important to manage your stress levels.

Here are some tips to help you through:

Give yourself enough time to study

Don't leave it until the last minute, ensuring you have enough time to dedicate to each subject can help ease stress and anxiety levels.

Make a time table with adequate time allocation to each subject.

Write down how many exams you have and the days on which you have to sit them. This will help you prioritize which subjects to study for first. You also may have subjects that you need to spend more time on. Find a balance that works for you.

Organize your study space

Make sure you have enough space to spread your textbooks and notes out. Have you got enough light? Is your chair comfortable? Are your distractions out of sight.

Make sure you feel as comfortable and able to focus as possible.

Tidy your study space, a cluttered desk can lead to a cluttered mind. If you study better in complete silence ensure you have a space away from others or share your study plans with your family so they can accommodate you.

Some people study better with music, noise cancelling headphones can help you block out distractions too.

Think about what works for you, and take the time to get it right.

Practice on old exams

One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practice taking past versions. This helps you get used to the format of the questions, and - if you time yourself - can also be good practice for making sure you spend the right amount of time on each section.

You can find old NZQA practice exams on this website.

https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/assessment/search.do?query=English&view=exams&level=02

Explain your answers and thoughts to others.

Parents and little brothers and sisters don't have to be annoying around exam time. Use them to your advantage. Explain an answer to a question to them. That will help you to get it clear in your head, and also to highlight any areas where you need more work.

Take Breaks

studies have shown that for long-term retention of knowledge, taking regular breaks really helps.

Everyone's different, so develop a study routine that works for you. If you study better in the morning, start early before taking a break at lunchtime. Or, if you're more productive at night time, take a larger break earlier on so you're ready to settle down in the evening.

Try not to feel guilty about being out enjoying the sunshine instead of hunched over your textbooks. Remember Vitamin D is important for a healthy brain.

Drink Lots of Water.

When the body is dehydrated your brain can become sluggish and slow. Make sure to keep your fluids up, during study and exams.

Snack on brain food.

Eat food that help your brain function to the best of its ability.

Blueberries are packed with antioxidants that may delay brain aging and improve memory

Turmeric and its active compound curcumin have strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, which help the brain.

Broccoli, pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate, nuts, oranges, eggs and green tea are tasty options that boost brain power so get snacking.

Get a good nights sleep

Make sure to get a full 8 hours sleep the night before an exam, so your mind and body is well rested and able to function at full capacity.

Good Luck to all our NZQA students, Make us proud!