Brimbank young citizen of the year Selina Tsang started volunteering as a year 9 student at Sunshine West’s Marian College.
“I wasn’t really in a good place personally, and I found getting into the community gave me a lot back,” Ms Tsang said.
Now 18, Ms Tsang has just finished her VCE, and has volunteered with many groups since 2013. But it has never felt like a burden.
“Helping others makes me feel good,” she said. “At the end of the day, you can step out of it and know that you have changed someone’s week.
“It doesn’t have to be their whole life, but a week or a month of help can make a difference.
“Something like food donations could make such a huge difference to someone’s life, so that’s what I find most rewarding.”
Ms Tsang has worked with Sunshine Lions Club at many events, raising more than $8000 for charities as varied as the Leukemia Foundation, RSPCA, Beyond Blue and Australian Red Cross, among others.
She also took part in a service trip to Vietnam through her role as co-president of the Marian Leo’s Club, building houses for a village near Mekong.
“That trip was pretty close to my heart,” she said. “It really showed me how people who have nothing have a lot to give.”
Ms Tsang plans to join the Brimbank Leo Club this year, before hopefully moving into the Sunshine Lions Club in the future.
