Operation Truffle

Julie’s  connection with Intermediate Schools came when she began speaking professionally in 2009. An evening engagement at the Ashburton Plains Rotary in June saw her with an afternoon spare in the South Canterbury town of Ashburton.  So – rather than waste it she decided to visit a local Intermediate School selected by her  host. They had their assembly at 1.30 pm with Julie as their guest speaker. 
 
Julie had a fabulous time – she spoke to the whole school and at the end of the assembly they introduced her to a pupil with a vision impairment. After the assembly Julie  went and spoke to a single class. All the pupils asked her  loads of questions and after half an hour of answering them Julie left Ashburton Intermediate.

Julie  thought that was the end of it...

But when she returned home the next day – here’s what was in her  inbox"

"Hello Julie, My name is Madie. I am 12. You came to Ashburton Intermediate School on Wednesday the 24th of June. You were a big inspiration to me. You are amazing and I hope everyone you meet realizes that.

Yours Sincerely

Madie."

Wow Madie. You don’t know how wonderful it was for Julie to get your inspiring words.

Then Julie got asked by her cousin to visit the school he teaches at in October.

“We’re doing a unit on celebration Julie so we’d love you to come and tell us about your 10 years blind party” Mr Woods asked me.

So Julie went and spoke to over 100 senior students at Green Island School on the 22 October, 2009.

Same thing again...

She returned home to her inbox and found the following ……

"Hello Julie, my name is Anya, and I go to Green Island School, where your cousin Lance works, and I would just like to say that you are my Idol, and every time I get stuck, I think of you and I manage to get through, you’re the coolest woman I have ever met! From Anya!"

Followed closely by this one……

"Hi Julie, I’m lily from green island school and I would just like to say that your speech at our school was very inspiring to like make us think that you don’t have to be able to see to be a very inspirational and motivating person and I have just been on your website and it rules I love the article about how you went to Egypt.My best friend Anya has also E-mailed you.I have heard from Mr woods that you are going to come back to green island school and do some "cooking without looking" with some of the kids who have been good aroundthe school. And i would just like to say thanks heaps from green island school and that you are like the most motivating person i have ever met and i think that you are awesome!!!

yours sincerely:
lily"

Then one month later Julie found herself going up to Auckland for a book launch and had an afternoon spare. This time it was Papatoetoe Intermediate who grabbed the opportunity to have her speak. She visited three classrooms and again – the same thing happened...
 
“I think that you are a really extrodinary woman for not letting your blindness take over you in what you can and cant do”

“you gave me a lot of advice on no matter what probelm you  have that you should always never let yourself down”

“How can you cook thats just too amazing!”

“I didn't realise that you could accomplish so many things even though you're blind”

“WOW! Just because you have lost your eyesight dosen't mean you dont have the ability to speak from your heart”
 
“No matter waht happens in life, you just have to live it and try your best in giving everythinga go!!!!!!”

“I didnt realise blind people could put on make up, cook, reffereee a touch game and still have the confidence to be a modervational speaker”

“Even though you are blind you aren't afraid to do anything that people who are not blind afraid of”

“I didn't realise that being blind could be cool”

So – after all of this – Operation Truffle was born. Julie has sat up and taken notice of what these kids were saying and knew that she had to be doing more of this.

Besides – Julie  loved Intermediate School when she went herself so this seemed like the natural thing to do!

To find out how Operation Truffle works click here.

To make a donation to Operation Truffle – click here.