Red Cross stories
Red Cross stories
Read our stories filled with humanity, resilience and the spirit of volunteering. They show how your support is helping vulnerable people in New Zealand and around the world.
16 July 2025
World Refugee Day 2025: Solidarity across Aotearoa New Zealand
Every year on 20 June, we mark World Refugee Day to honour the courage of millions of people who have been forced to leave their homes. Across Aotearoa New Zealand, events large and small were held to honour refugee-background communities, amplify their voices, and encourage connections.
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19 June 2025
Former refugee helping other new Kiwis into employment
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.
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16 June 2025
Mending bikes, rebuilding strength
For Sabelo, keeping his hands busy while volunteering with Red Cross is more than just a way to give back – it was also an important part of his own recovery journey after a stroke.
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12 June 2025
Helping new Kiwi families find their balance
There’s always a flurry of activity when volunteer Jasmin is asked to help welcome a former refugee family to Invercargill. She explains how she and her fellow volunteers prepare for new arrivals, what they do to help families settle in, and how her own family gets involved.
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20 May 2025
Helping young former refugees thrive
For young people from refugee backgrounds arriving in New Zealand, there's a lot to get used to. Uzma is one of our specialised settlement youth workers who helps former refugee rangatahi connect socially and thrive in their new environment.
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