The V Team
A serendipitous combination of geographical circumstance, global mission and vision and ambitious administrative standards have led to the formation of a vibrant young team of volunteers driving the work of Life Global Australia.
Three young professionals are at the core of LifeGA. Kieran McGowan and Rachel Thompson are founding members of the Board of Directors, and Rebecca Reeve is Director of Digital Media on the Advisory Board. While all live in the home country of LifeGA, Australia, their backgrounds and paths to service for the charity are quite different, and none fits the profile of the typical volunteer.
In Australia, most volunteers are at least in their 60s, with those in their 70s and 50s close seconds. Understandably, those not working, or working few hours, are more likely to be volunteering. So older, retired Australians typically dominate the ranks of volunteers. How, then, do three busily-employed professionals in their 20s and 30s come to dominate the 100% volunteer administration of fledgling charity, LifeGA?
At first glance, Kieran’s seems the most direct connection. His grandparents were originally from Gujarat in India and gave lifelong support to charitable organisations there.
“My grandfather has been involved with charities in India, including our partner charity, Project Life, since long before we started Life Global Australia. As a child, I had the good fortune of getting to see one of the schools built by those charities, and the joy it had brought to students, teachers, and local families.”
Rebecca Reeve also came to LifeGA with some connection to India. Before moving to Australia from England, she travelled in India and felt an instant connection with the country.
“I wanted to make a positive impact and saw joining LifeGA in July 2023 as my opportunity to be involved in something bigger. I loved learning of the impact LifeGA was making.”
For both Kieran and Rebecca, the chance to make a difference in the world was most alluring. It is also what attracted Rachel.
“What initially drew me to Life Global Australia was the profound impact it has on the lives of the less privileged,” Rachel said.
Rachel probably has the longest experience in volunteering, though all three had volunteered long before they joined LifeGA. While still at school in Singapore, Rachel participated in after-school programs for children with disabilities and was involved in many school camps.
“Notably, I had the opportunity to contribute to house-building projects in Cambodia and took part in the Schools-to-Schools program in Nepal, where we fundraised and delivered shoes to several villages.”
Kieran was in community service clubs while at school in Australia, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. Rebecca started volunteering while attending university in the UK, working for the charity, House of Bread, in Staffordshire.
“HOB began as a university film project, but their passion rubbed off on me quickly, and I soon found myself joining for their weekly meetup, helping to prepare food bags and essentials, cooking meals and meeting and connecting with vulnerable people across Stafford.”
What clearly differentiates Kieran, Rebecca and Rachel from the typical volunteer is that they have not adopted LifeGA as a way to fill in hours of free time. Each is a busy professional working long days to shape a career in their chosen sector. Kieran has a background in software engineering which has proven useful when it comes to website-related or payments-related tasks, and has meant LifeGA has not had to pay for external contractors. This has been crucial in supporting LifeGA’s commitment that 100% of donations (excluding bank fees) will go to partner charities, which are themselves required to have less than 5% administration costs. Rebecca’s field is marketing and media, and she has improved LifeGA’s connection with its audience by increasing engagement and optimising the LifeGA digital space. Rachel has studied both Psychology and Sustainability and works in the sustainability sector. She has focused on building the Life Global Australia team. Her strength lies in identifying the right individuals, recognising the potential value of their work, inspiring them to join the cause, and bringing them all together.
“None of us could have done this without the supportive team that we’ve built,” Kieran said.
Rachel believes the team is not just a group of individuals working together. “It is a collective force driven by a shared commitment to the mission and values of Life Global Australia.” LifeGA’s mission and vision provide the strong bond within the charity’s team.
“Our primary mission is to bring about real change in the lives of those who lack the opportunities readily available to us in Australia,” Rachel said. “Opportunities we might unintentionally take for granted.”
“I think it’s important to do what is possible to make the world a fairer place for all”, Rebecca said. “It’s very easy to get absorbed in your day-to-day life, and forget about the world outside of your own.”
All three comment on the sense of purpose they have found through volunteering for LifeGA.
“I have learnt that what can be considered a small amount of money in Australia can make a huge impact overseas,” Rebecca said. “We can change lives and increase opportunities for so many.”
Rachel agrees. “Through LifeGA, we have already helped 75 women to achieve economic security, 100 units of blood to be given to needy recipients, and ensured 500 Thalassemia screening tests. Now we are on our way to building a school, raising funds classroom by classroom.”
As Kieran said, “When offered the opportunity to create more of the same kind of change, who could say no?”
www.lifeglobal.org.au
