AWS Cloud and AI Day brings together developers, engineers and business leaders from across New Zealand. Generus gave that audience a practical way to give back, with an activity tied to the world of technology.

The idea was simple. Attendees stopped by the Build and Give Back station and packed a STEM kit with handles, washers, coloured beads and instructions, so a child could build and customise their own jump rope.

The challenge was making it work on a busy conference floor. Attendees move between sessions with only a few minutes to spare, so the activity had to be easy to join, quick to explain and consistent from the first kit to the last.

The Emissaries team prepared the station the afternoon before. They organised the materials into a clear packing line and built a sample kit, so attendees could see the finished result at a glance.

On the day, the team invited people in, shared the story behind the kits and guided each participant through the build. They also checked every kit before packing and kept materials topped up, so the line never stalled.

Throughout the event, our Team Leader kept Generus updated on progress and shared photos of attendees taking part. At close, the team packed and labelled the finished kits for donation.

Generus runs its activations from the United States, so it needed a local team who could own the station from setup through to courier handover. It’s the kind of role our event staff take on at conferences and activations across Australia and New Zealand.

Roles Played

• Prepared the station and organised the packing line
• Built and displayed a sample kit for attendees
• Welcomed attendees and explained the charity behind the kits
• Guided participants through each step of the build
• Checked every kit before packing
• Kept materials stocked throughout the day
• Captured attendee photos and sent progress updates to Generus
• Packed and labelled finished kits for donation and courier collection