Africa Refugee Community Coalition - Making a difference

Please click on the link below to view an article about African Community in Auckland



http://ethnicaffairs.govt.nz/story/africa-refugee-community-coalition-%E2%80%93-making-difference

Hamilton Refugee Graduation

In August 2014, 12 Colombian families graduated at the Waikato Migrant Centre after a combination of 1:1 training at home and together in class. HMST (Hamilton Multi-Cultural Services Trust) has been using this method of instruction so that families can begin involvement as soon as possible after they arrive in NZ. As families arrive in small intakes of 3-4 at a time, it is hard for them to wait months, or up to a year for a complete class to start. Eventually all graduate and celebrate together. Actually MP’s David Bennett and Tim Macindoe had attended but had to leave for another engagement, and as Di’s plane was delayed we missed each other and they do not star as they usually do in the photos. Thanks to the wonderful team at HMST: Ellie, Tania, Merzia and John, as well as interpreters, Fatlianto Xiao from MoE  and Red Cross Refugee Services.

Porirua Refugee

The last 10 Refugee families for the 2013-14 Computers in Homes year trained and graduated out of e-Learning Porirua’s digital hub in June 2014.

There were 5 different nationalities represented and the interpreters Jacqueline and Ibrahim did an amazing job in Spanish, Arabic and Eritrean languages.

A webcam prize was awarded for the student who made the biggest contribution to the group. The warmth and camaraderie amongst this diverse group was there for all to feel, so there was much laughter and many tears during the celebrations.

 

 

Palmerston North Refugee

Another fabulous group of 17  families with Refugee background graduated from Computers in Homes training in March 2014.These were from Afghani, Burmese and Nepali communities, settling into a new life in the Manawatu. Freyberg High is a great host and we thank all the support the families receive from there.

Nelson Refugee

This was our last Nelson Refugee CIH graduation with Mark Brown at the helm as Principal of Victory School. However, our wonderful team on the ground of Dianne Goodwin, Tim Jackson and Tania O’Meagher remain to take families though family liaison, training and tech support. Victory celebrations always involve huge cultural contribution from the Burmese, Chin Bhutanese and Nepali communities by way of music, song and dance. The children are amazing and put a smile on everyone’s faces.

Hamilton Multicultural Cultural Service Trust Refugee

The Waikato Migrant Centre have been long term hosts of the Refugee CIH programme in Hamilton. Here HMST (Hamilton Multi Cultural Services Trust) staff give the thumbs up to the new training pod recently installed for CIH, ESOL and other training, including 10 computers, data projector and sound system. The Hamilton team comprises HMST management Ellie & Tania; Family Liaison Merzia& tutor John; Hamilton MoE Migrant Coordinator Afat and CIH’s Di Daniels. We graduated 17 families over 2013-14 including families of the Afghani interpreters. Hamilton MP’s Tim Macindoe and David Bennett are great supporters of CIH graduations. Mr Bennett realised her had said goodnight instead of Good Morning in Spanish, much to the amusement of the Colombian family graduates.

Race Relations Day 2014

20 March was Race Relations Day and Human Rights Commission release of the NZ Race Relations Report, marked by a celebration at Auckland Regional Migrant Services, Three Kings, Auckland.

The report is available online at www.hrc.co.nz/rrreport