Former refugee helping other new Kiwis into employment
19 June 2025
Hamdi Kalif’s story is one of transformation: from a young girl in a refugee camp to a woman now helping others navigate their new lives in Aotearoa. She has turned hardship into hope – not just for herself, but for many new Kiwis.
When she arrived in New Zealand in 2008 alongside her mother and seven siblings, Hamdi was just a teenager. Their journey was part of a family reunification programme that brought them to Wellington, where they joined her aunty and two cousins. Until then, Hamdi’s world had been shaped by refugee camp life in Somalia – waiting, hoping and surviving.
Her first impressions of New Zealand were a mix of wonder and shock. “When we arrived, I said: wow. It is very clean. Very beautiful. It’s really amazing,” she recalls. But settling in wasn’t without challenges. The climate was dramatically different from what she was used to.
“The country I came from is sunny 24 hours a day. In New Zealand, it was cold and raining!” she laughs. “And the language. I didn’t speak any English.”
She enrolled at Naenae College knowing just two English words: “hi” and “hello.” But despite the cultural and linguistic barriers, Hamdi felt welcomed and supported. “I feel like they welcomed me,” she says, reflecting on those early school days.
That sense of acceptance became the foundation for her success and a value she now passes on to others.
Creating connections through her role at Red Cross
Now 35 years old, Hamdi is the Red Cross Pathways to Employment Community Champion in Wellington. Her role is both professional and deeply personal. It connects her with people from refugee backgrounds who are starting the same journey she once did. She makes connections, working within refugee-background communities to raise awareness that New Zealand Red Cross can help with employment, study and training support.
Hamdi Kalif with colleagues from the New Zealand Red Cross Migration team.
“What I like about my job is that it connects me to my community,” she says. “I really enjoy going out and meeting families who have come to New Zealand. When they want a job but face language barriers, I can help with interpretation and explaining things. I like working for the Red Cross – this job means a lot to me.”
Her goal is to make sure that people from refugee backgrounds know they are not alone, and that support is available.
“For many people, having secure employment is more than just paying the bills. It’s about dignity, independence and belonging,” Hamdi says. “It gives me purpose, too, knowing I’m helping someone take that first step.”
With experience, Hamdi understands the real-life challenges newly arrived former refugees face, especially around employment.
Giving back and looking ahead
New Zealand, Hamdi says, has given her many opportunities – access to education, healthcare and housing. Just as importantly, it has given her the freedom to be herself. “New Zealand is a country where you can practice your culture and religion. I have no difficulty keeping my culture here. We celebrate Eid and Somali Independence Day; we wear our traditional clothes and cook our food.”
Hamdi Kalif, working in the office.
Hamdi dreams of becoming a midwife one day, another way she hopes to give back to the community. She also hopes to travel, something she hasn’t yet had the chance to do.
But her biggest hopes are for her four children. “They are still young, but I hope they can achieve whatever they want in New Zealand.”
Through her work, her story, and her determination, Hamdi is showing them – and so many others – what’s possible.
Her story is more than a personal journey. It’s a message to every new Kiwi that with support, connection, and perseverance, you can achieve.
How we can help
Finding a job
Our Pathways to Employment team offers a safe and trusting environment for refugee-background job seekers. We will work with you to understand your career goals and then develop a plan to help you achieve them.
Finding skilled workers
If you are an employer, our Pathways to Employment teams can connect you with refugee-background job seekers who are skilled, hard-working and available for immediate start.
Header image: Hamdi Kalif, Pathways to Employment Community Champion, Wellington, sharing a friendly connection with another team member.