Palmerston North Refugee Graduation June 2016

Another successful refugee Computers in Homes programme was celebrated in Palmerston North on the 25th of June 2016.  Five refugee families graduated in style as they completed their computer training at Freyberg High School.  Most of the families had little to no knowledge of how to use a computer and they all worked very hard to make the most of the training.

Thank you to Sonja De Lange from Red Cross for presenting the families with their certificates.

From left:  Dave Clark (Icona Tech), Doug Strachn (Trainer),  Adasullah Rezei (Red Cross),  Cr Adrian Broad (Palmerston North City Council), Gina Gonzalez (MOE), Sonja De Lange (Red Cross) Wendy Jochem (Associate Principal Freyberg High Scool),   Cr Tangi Utikere (Palmerston North City Council),  Burmese Family Interpreter & Deven Rai (Freyberg Refugee Family Coordinator).

We were very fortunate to have a supportive group come along to celebrate with all of the families.  

Resettled Syrian refugees talk of life half a world away from their homeland

Privileged to work with our refugee families.

Click on this link to follow the story of this family

Auckland Refugee Graduation - May 2016

During May the RYAN Centre in Mt Roskill, proudly hosted the graduation of 9 students following 30 hours of computer training that began in April.

The day was celebrated with families present and special guest speakers.  Dr Arif Saied warmly welcomed our in-house team - Dr. Elfadil Sabeil (trainer), Patrick Saw (translator and family liaison), Hameed Sharifi (technician) along with guests Susan Gamble (MOE) and Adel Salmanzadeh (MOE) and Celia Brandon (Red Cross).  Each of our team and guests shared warm congratulations, encouragement and reiterated helpful hints about the support available after the graduation.

Thanks went out to our wonderful team of translators who are present from beginning of training to the last dish washed after graduation.  There is something quite wonderful when you share something as a speaker,  that is translated via these wonderful team members.  You see faces smile and shine, you see the nodding of acknowledgement and you hear the sounds of approval.  Thank you again to the team of translators - your assistance is invaluable.

Congratulations again to our wonderful graduates and their families.

Guest speaker Susan Gamble 

Ready to head home with their graduation package.  Well done!

 

Wellington Refugee Graduation June 2015

On Saturday 18 June 14 families from the Wellington Region graduated from the Computers in Homes programme.  Each family completed 30 hours of digital literacy training, both 'in-class' and 'in-home'. A big thank you to the e-Learning team of Tim Davies-Colley (Project Manager), Ibrahim Raouf-Morton (Tutor) and Peter Lynch (Tech support), who delivered another outstanding programme.

Gina Gonzales and Maureen Zaya (Ministry of Education - Regional Refugee and Migrant Coordinators) attended. Maureen spoke to the group in Arabic as a former migrant. She said when she came to New Zealand 15 years ago (from Iraq) she had a lot of help and Kiwis want to help - so just ask.

Graham Kelly as Chair of the e-Learning Porirua Trust, encouraged the graduates to make the most of the technology and their new skills, to learn and get jobs and Shona Te Huki (Wellington Refugee Regional Coordinator) also spoke to each of the graduates congratulating them on committing to the training and to make the most of what they have learnt during the programme.  Shona presented each of our graduate with their certificates of completion.

 This was another multi-ethnic group: 10 from Syria, two from Afghanistan, one from Colombia and one family (husband and wife attended) from Vietnam.

Well done.

Wellington Refugee Graduation June 2016 on PhotoPeach

Dundedin Refugee CiH Update

On 29 April 2016 Di Daniels attended the DUNEDIN EDUCATION HUI held at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin to share ideas and experience on how to best support the Syrian families who had arrived in Dunedin the previous week.

Speakers included:

• Pip Laufiso / Hassan Ibrahim Ministry of Education Refugee and Migrant team
• Julie Anderson- Director of Education, Otago Southland
• Keynote Speaker – Brent Ingram past Principal Hagley Community College ChCh
• Patrick O’Connor – Director PEETO- The Multicultural Learning Centre ChCh
• Helen Taylor-Young – Principal Victory School Nelson
• Mastura Abdu Rahman – Diversity Manager
• Sarah Denny – Director of Learning Communities – Hagley Community College
• Di Daniels – National Coordinator, Computers in Homes
• Ikran Ahmed- Bilingual Worker Hagley Community College
• Sumaiya – General Manager, Canterbury Refugee Council and Ahmed Tan – Chairman, National Refugee Network

Helen Taylor-Young from Victory School in Nelson and
Hassan Ibrahim, Refugee and Migrant Coordinator for MoE South

Auckland Refugee Graduation - December 2015

Before the Graduation Day had even arrived - the excitement was evident in many text messages and checking to see if the guest we had invited would still be coming.

How wonderful to arrive and find so many excited graduates waiting with their whanau.  The aromas of a barbecue Middle Eastern style was in the air and the wonderful feast that had been prepared was already laid out.  Congratulations to the 11 graduates.  You are all well on the way to being great digital citizens.

Thank you to our guests representing Red Cross, the Ministry of Education and Mighty River Power.  The highlight for our whanau was To'aletai David Tua, who shared about his immigration from Samoa to New Zealand as a child.  He also shared about his history with the Refugee Centre in Mangere.  To end his time of sharing - he told the graduates he would follow the tradition of the land and conclude with a waiata "Maori Battalion".  Who knew he could sing so well?!

Well done everyone - we wish you well in your endeavours and trouble-free computing!

David presenting the graduates certificates along with Helen Amituana'i (Mighty River Power)

Beautiful smiles!

She waited so patiently for a photo with David.

Auckland Refugee Graduation - September 2015

RYAN Centre Refugee Graduation - Class of September 2015

A hearty congratulations to our refugee whanau that graduated on a rather chilly September afternoon.

The graduation was well attended by whanau and guests that shared encouraging words with graduates.  Our guests represented the Red Cross, Ministry of Education, Computers In Homes and the RYAN Centre.

Thank you to the diligent translators and trainer.  Your services are a major part of whanau enjoying success.

I hope our graduates enjoy trouble-free computing and new projects for themselves and their whanau.

Working hard before the big day - still there's always time for a smile.