The Otago University Students' Association has joined the ranks of Dunedin's ''Scarfie Army'' in a bid to get more students volunteering.
The polytechnic launched the ''Scarfie Army'' pilot programme last year, drawing inspiration from the success of Christchurch's ''student volunteer army''. The president of OUSA, Francisco Hernandez, hoped the ''Scarfie Army'' branding would help encourage more students to get involved in volunteering.
''OUSA was keen to join because it's very much in line with our vision of having students be a force for good in the local community, Mr Hernandez said.
''This will give students a central hub to get involved with volunteering efforts and enable us to use our power constructively for the benefit of the local community.
''OUSA had been in negotiations about becoming part of the volunteer initiative over the past ''few months''.
Scarfie Army initiatives that university students would be involved in soon included street clean-ups with Keep Dunedin Beautiful. Recently university students had also played an important part in raising more than $5000 for the Dunedin Women's Refuge.
