Sheridan-Leigh enthusiastically participates in charity and community work with the sole purpose of making the world a better place. These local and international engagements showcase her strong commitment to creating positive change.
Family Values
Growing up in a Christian household, compassion was ingrained through my family’s active engagement in charitable endeavors like the Christmas Box appeal, UNICEF, and World Vision. As I transitioned into young adulthood, this legacy of empathy propelled me to embark on various compassionate projects. The act of reaching out to those less fortunate has remained a consistent thread in my life, an enduring commitment fostered by the values instilled in me since childhood.
Bali School Kids Project
Working personally to promote international goodwill, I assist village children in Bali to access primary education through the Rotary Bali-Sembung project. Since its launch in 1999, this initiative has provided essential school supplies, classroom resources, environmental education, health check-ups, and teacher training. Nearly two thousand children have already benefitted, paving the way for a brighter future. When visiting Bali, I have the opportunity to connect with these children at their schools, creating unforgettable moments that add a meaningful touch to my many trips to Bali.
Multiple visits to Bali enabled me to conduct school audits, comprehensively evaluating how we could provide optimal assistance to children, educators, and the schools. Presently, I continue my engagement with this organization in Bali, fostering ongoing positive impact.
Bras For Bali Project
Is a very small charity with no paid staff, striving to make the most of time and the contributions they receive. The focus is on lending a hand to villages in North Bali.
The regions they support are around a 3-hour drive away from popular places like Legian, Seminyak, and Kuta. If you’re interested, you can participate in our Village Distribution Days. They don’t gain anything from this – it’s solely about assisting the villages. On the admin side, it’s just one person Judi, occasionally getting help from the members of this group. With collaborative effort they manage to bring significant, sometimes life-altering changes to those who are less fortunate.
Rotary International
Seeking a fresh path to make a difference, I joined Rotary, a journey that felt like coming full circle. As a member of Ellenbrook Rotary, I transitioned from utilizing my local community involvement to taking on the role of a committee member for the Bali School Kids Project. This initiative aims to educate children in disadvantaged areas of Bali. Multiple visits to Bali enabled me to conduct school audits, comprehensively evaluating how we could provide optimal assistance to children, educators, and the schools. Presently, I continue my engagement with this organization in Bali, fostering ongoing positive impact.
Youth Special Needs (Scouting)
Being chosen to represent Western Australia and take part in the inaugural APR Workshop on Engaging Children and Youth with Special Needs was an immense honour. This five-day residential event was hosted in Brisbane, where a diverse group of 40 participants from 12 different countries convened.
Goal:
The primary objective was to facilitate the exchange of insights, contemporary approaches, and effective strategies for the meaningful integration of young individuals with special needs and disabilities into the realm of Scouting and community education.
Objectives:
By the conclusion of the workshop, participants were equipped to:
Articulate key terminologies and highlight recent advancements pertinent to working with young people who possess special requirements.
Articulate the advantages associated with incorporating youth with special needs and disabilities into Scouting activities.
Share prevailing methodologies for effectively engaging youth with special needs and disabilities within the Scouting context.
Establish a network of like-minded individuals within National Scout Organizations (NSOs), fostering the exchange of experiences and championing the involvement of young people with special needs and disabilities in Scouting.
Participating in this workshop was a transformative experience that set me on an ongoing path to assist and educate children with additional needs.
Following the first workshop, I then continued and worked tirelessly to implement what I learned. I co-authored a book to help other adults and gave them the resources to include these children in education and other social activities. I was asked to be a Keynote speaker at the Annual National Disability Summit conference in Melbourne Australia.
Collaborating with Peter Blatch OAM from Brisbane, Australia, who’s a heartfelt volunteer among the 12 chosen members of the World Scout Committee, the leadership crew of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, was an experience that touched my heart. Together, we crafted another workshop, and this time it took place in the city of Perth, Western Australia.
Our aim was straightforward: to shed light on the immense value of welcoming youth with special needs and disabilities into the world of inclusive education and Scouting. We wanted to: Share the genuine advantages that come with having these wonderful kids swap stories about the current approaches that work best for involving and supporting young people with unique needs and building a community of like-minded individuals within National Scout Organizations (NSOs), all eager to share their experiences and champion the meaningful participation of these remarkable young ones in Scouting.
Seeing this workshop blossom into reality and having the privilege to collaborate with representatives from 14 diverse countries filled my heart with joy and gratitude. It truly stood out as a special moment in my journey of giving.
Adults in Scouting
I was a dedicated adult volunteer who served with the Scout Association of Australia for many years. My passion drove me to inspire generations of scouts through thrilling outdoor adventures, engaging skill workshops, and heartfelt conversations. Every interaction was a chance to foster camaraderie, responsibility, and personal growth, making each scout feel genuinely valued. Beyond the practical skills, I aimed to instil empathy and leadership, forging connections that created a tight-knit scouting family.
My ongoing commitment left a lasting impact, as I witnessed young lives transform, knowing that my care and devotion shaped their journey. Throughout those years, I guided and inspired scouts, just as they inspired me.
As time passed, my role expanded, and I began teaching fellow adult volunteers what I knew, taking on the role of a trainer. My goal was to share not just the practical aspects but also the unique sense of camaraderie that scouting brings. By providing training, I ensured that the caring and dedicated spirit I held would carry on with new volunteers.
Scout Commissioner Role (Western Australia)
As a passionate Commissioner in Scouting, I was responsible for leading groundbreaking Education Cultural exchange trips in partnership with the Singapore Ministry of Education. These trips are more than just journeys; they are transformative experiences that foster understanding and unity among cultures and young minds.
The excitement as we embarked on the Singapore to Perth adventure. Accompanied by a group of 100 children and 30 enthusiastic adults, we have meticulously orchestrated a 10-day program that immersed participants in the country of Australia. From thrilling camping escapades to the exhilarating rush of a flying fox, and the camaraderie forged over outdoor cooking sessions – our aim was not only to provide Australian experiences but also to embrace the richness of various cultures and religions that our diverse group represented. To this day I have many friends that I met on that first trip.
The exchange was so successful that a reciprocal trip was planned with 15 bright-eyed Australian teenagers and two adults, hungry for knowledge and cultural insights, of Singapore and Malaysia, embarking on an educational exchange. Our trip extended to places where innovation and sustainability converge, and to projects like Newater, which showcases Singapore’s pioneering approach to water solutions. These teenagers not only witnessed how nations adapt; they became ambassadors for change in their communities.
Following the first few exchanges my dedication to continue these trips was now a showcase of my passion for Youth and International education. After gaining permission and paperwork I spearheaded a journey that transcended borders – from Perth to Singapore, uniting 30 teenagers for the Asia Pacific Jamboree. This extraordinary event brings together passionate participants not only from Singapore and Australia but also from vibrant nations like India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and more. The energy was palpable as cultures collided, friendships blossomed, and a tapestry of shared dreams unfolded against the backdrop of scouting camaraderie.
These trips were not just about physical travel; they were about the boundless journey of the heart and mind. Through every interaction, every discovery, and every connection made, I nurtured global future citizens who will carry the flames of understanding, unity, and respect for diverse cultures into the future.
Camp Possible
Embarking on a remarkable journey from Perth to Singapore, my compassionate collaboration with the Scout associations of both nations and the Ministry of Education Singapore unfolded through a cultural exchange named “Camp Possible.” This initiative aimed to unite and enlighten a group of 100 Australian 11 and 12-year-olds and the same amount of Singaporean students.
Our journey encountered an unexpected obstacle as a huge smoke haze swept in, prompting the Ministry to cancel the camp. However, rather than yielding to the setback, my team and I chose compassion as our guiding principle. With unwavering determination and a strong spirit, we rallied together with teachers and leaders from both countries to reshape our plans. In the face of adversity, we orchestrated an elaborate and immersive 10-day program that was an unforgettable experience for these young minds.
Through “Camp Possible,” I witnessed the profound impact of compassion in turning obstacles into triumphs. It reinforced my belief that my determination and compassion aren’t merely a virtue, but a force capable of transforming unforeseen adversities into remarkable stories that make up my life journey of giving to others.