Stories

Atefeh Behnam Nejabat has an impressive resume, multiple qualifications and many years of experience working as an accountant. But the road to employment in Aotearoa was a little bumpy at first. With the help of New Zealand Red Cross Pathways to Employment team, she eventually got there.

In the middle of the night, Abdal was faced with a parent’s worst nightmare — finding their child not breathing. Luckily, Abdal knew what to do.

Tucked in behind the main street in Nelson is an unassuming concrete building. You’d never know that inside this building, chef and former refugee Alexander Garcia Gongoro is baking up something delicious. The only hint is a small black sign that reads ‘YUM’.

Moises is an avid cyclist and gifted bike mechanic in Invercargill. He uses his spare time to refurbish pre-loved bikes, turning them into treasures for newly settled former refugees.

It may have taken Poe Say 25 years, but she never gave up on being reunited with her two sons. Poe’s heartbreaking story of separation with her two sons is one of courage, hope and determination.

The first family from the annual refugee quota due to settle in Blenheim has finally arrived to their new home. It has been a long time coming for the family, as well as the Blenheim community. 

Helping refugee-background young people settle in New Zealand is a key part of our work in Aotearoa. Support from Farmers Trading Company after the attacks on 15 March meant we could provide long-term and direct support to young people. 

While 86-year-old Ian has supported countless former refugee families over the years and has become like a grandfather to many, during the lockdown, he has received as much support as he had given.

Her journey to New Zealand as a refugee hasn’t been an easy one but today, as a chef for Compassion Soup Kitchen and an essential worker during the lockdown, Suzanne* has found her purpose feeding hundreds of people in need in Wellington.

Red Cross volunteers and staff are using video calling and messaging apps to support newly arrived refugee families amid the ongoing COVID-19 response. 

As our work supporting former refugees in New Zealand has been deemed an ‘essential’ service during the COVID-19 lockdown, Red Cross staff and volunteers are ensuring refugee background communities continue to receive support. 

With the help of our Open Road driver training programme, former refugees are on the right track to becoming full New Zealand license holders.