Krystle Praestiin

Student of the world now Young Alumnus of the Year

Friday, August 28, 2015

Krystle Praestiin

It was clear from the start that Krystle Praestiin’s life would be anything but ordinary. Born in Cochabamba, Bolivia, to parents Axel and Julie Praestiin, workers for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Denmark, Krystle spent her early childhood in South America. When the Praestiins moved to Australia, Krystle attended Avondale School and, following her high school graduation in 2003, enrolled in the primary education course at Avondale. She later transferred into the Bachelor of Arts course, majoring in international development studies.

In 2006, she worked at Vejlefjordskolen, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school in Denmark, and in 2009 completed her international development studies placement with ADRA Denmark. Following her graduation from Avondale in December, Krystle was awarded a two-year internship with ADRA Malawi.

Getting to the villages in which ADRA Malawi worked required time and effort. The frequent trips along bumpy dirt roads through landscapes dotted with baobab trees—they’re some of the things she remembers the most.“My time in Africa provided many interesting experiences,” says Krystle. One that stood out: interviewing a family for a story on adult literacy classes. “I was blown away by how learning to read, write and do basic maths had helped them develop a profitable business, improve their housing, provide food, and value sending their children to also receive an education. It was the perfect ripple effect.” During her time in Malawi, Krystle also began the Krystle Clear Waters project, funded in part by Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church. The project raised funds for wells in remote villages where clean water was scarce—many villagers previously walked up to six hours to collect it.

Krystle returned to Australia in 2011 and now works with the Federal Court of Australia as project officer for the Pacific Judicial Development Programme. The program partners with courts in the Pacific to help improve access to justice and governance in the region. “I have a passion for empowering communities and people to reach their full potential,” says Krystle. “My goal is to keep doing that in whatever capacity I can.”

The Avondale Alumni Association honours Krystle for her commitment to development and passion for empowerment and justice.

Brenton Stacey
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Brenton Stacey

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Brenton is Avondale University’s Public Relations and Philanthropy Officer. He brings to the role experience as a communicator in publishing, media relations, public relations, radio and television, mostly within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific and its entities.

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