This year’s One World Charity Challenge steps up a gear this month as the students involved return to school and start working in earnest on their presentations. The high profile competition for Year 12 students aims to give youngsters an understanding of international development issues as they work with a chosen charity that operates overseas.

Although the competition is now in its ninth year, this is the first year at the helm for Charity Challenge Co-ordinator Helen Kneale who recently took over from the previous co-ordinator Jenni Kneale (no relation!).

Helen, who lives in Regaby with her husband and two teenage sons, has a long-standing interest in international development issues which dates back to the time she spent as a student herself at the UWC Atlantic College in Wales, courtesy of an Isle of Man Government scholarship.

“Being with students from so many different cultures made me understand much more about the differences but more importantly the similarities between people from different backgrounds,” says Helen.

“While I was at the College, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to Sri Lanka, where I undertook some voluntary work in an orphanage, clearing drainage ditches and helping with a medical clinic.

“Seeing another, very different, culture at first hand when I was 16 - the same age as the students undertaking the One World Charity Challenge - had a great effect on me, particularly seeing the contrast in living standards between people in the Isle of Man and those in the developing world.

“It made me more aware that things we take for granted, such as clean drinking water, are not automatically available everywhere in the world.”

Helen believes the One World Charity Challenge competition offers other valuable lessons for the participating students:

“The youngsters involved learn many transferable skills, including time management, research, team-work and presentation skills. It is great for the students to include on their CVs and University applications, as this scheme is unique in the British Isles and will therefore be a really good talking point for anyone wishing to go on to further education or get a job off-island.”

As Co-ordinator, Helen’s role is very varied. “Much of my time is spent visiting secondary schools to talk about the competition and present seminars to help the students research their chosen charities and put together a really interesting multi-media presentation about them.

“I also work with the charities taking part in the Charity Challenge, and I have really enjoyed learning more about the amazing work that they undertake in the developing world. Most of the charities involved are small, Manx-based charities, and the funds that they gain through the Charity Challenge prizes will make a big difference to the work that they do.

“I will also be organising the Charity Challenge final at the Manx Museum in March and I am looking forward to seeing the finished presentations!”

The One World Charity Challenge is run by the One World Centre with funding from the H&S Davidson Trust. Each student team which takes part has the opportunity to win a cash prize for their chosen charity, the actual amount being dependent on the standard of their presentations. In recent years the Isle of Man Government’s International Development Committee has also supported the event and provided matched funding.

One World Director Rosemary Clarke said; “We are delighted to have Helen on board as our new co-ordinator. As well as being very capable and highly organised, she has a lot of energy and passion for the aims of the competition and, having two teenage sons herself, is able to relate very well with the students involved.

“Each year the standard of presentations gets better and better and I am sure, with Helen’s involvement, this year will be no different!”

Photo - Helen Kneale, the new co-ordinator of the One World Charity Challenge.