International Delegation Visits New Zealand to Learn about Refugee Resettlement Programme
Delegates from all over the world came to New Zealand in February to learn about the country’s refugee resettlement programme and share their own experiences of working in the refugee resettlement sector. The visit began on Wednesday, 15 February, when the group toured Mangere Refugee Reception Centre (MRRC) just outside Auckland, and continued on Thursday and Friday, when the group travelled to Wellington to meet with a number of different agencies and speak directly with clients and volunteers.
“It was a busy few days,” says Refugee Services Chief Executive Heather Hayden, “but it was an incredibly valuable experience. We were not only able to share our resettlement programme but also learn from each of the representatives as well. Refugee Services’ work is constantly evolving, as we try to improve resettlement outcomes for former refugees, and learning from other countries is very helpful to that development.”
The MRRC programme on the 15th included presentations from Immigration New Zealand, AUT University, the New Zealand National Refugee Network, Auckland Refugee Community Coalition and many other agencies in New Zealand’s refugee sector.
“Everything we shared with the guests was really unique because the New Zealand refugee resettlement system is really unique,” says Aklilu Hibtit, Refugee Services Cross Cultural Worker Team Leader. “It works for us, and it works for most of the refugees we support.”
A key element of the MRRC programme was how often the guests were given the opportunity to hear directly from former refugees about their experiences in New Zealand. Jill Conway, Refugee Services Northern Region Manager, presented with Aklilu on the 6-week MRRC programme for newly arrived former refugees. They outlined the curriculum but also shared words and feelings that Aklilu had collected from former refugees themselves about their experiences at Mangere. The two also organised a panel of 5 former refugees who shared their resettlement experiences. The panellists were from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Burma and had gone through the Mangere programme at very different times in their lives.
“Everyone is different,” says Aklilu, “but so many of the feelings refugees experience at Mangere are the same. I came to New Zealand in 1998 as a refugee from Eritrea. There have been a lot of changes since then, and there are many new resources now, but a lot of the feelings they are having are the same as the ones I had so many years ago. The whole day gave me the chance to reflect on the refugee background point of view. It was a really good experience. We can learn from our guests, and they can learn from us too.”
Following the Mangere visit, the group travelled to Wellington for a two-day programme that shared more about New Zealand’s national refugee resettlement programme, including the new strategy being developed by Department of Labour, as well as what goes on at the local level. They were also welcomed into the homes of Porirua-based clients who shared their personal experiences.
The balance between the morning agenda, which dealt more with policy and information about the national programme, and the afternoon visits to client homes was a high point for Refugee Services Greater Wellington Manager Molly Kennedy. “It was really nice to be able to give them a hands-on experience. It was a chance to see in practice how things worked and meet some of the people who were going through the programme, as well as volunteers who were providing support,” says Molly. “The guests were able to ask questions and compare our systems with those in their own countries.”
The feedback from the visitors about the whole experience was very positive, from acknowledging how the different agencies in the sector work together and communicate to appreciating the opportunity to talk to former refugees and hear how much they felt they were a part of New Zealand. It was an touching experience for many, including Molly.
“It was a great opportunity to step back and look at our programme from a different perspective,” she says. “It was really nice for me personally to hear from clients and volunteers what the programme has meant to them, and for the staff to be part of that experience as well.”
One thing that everyone, from New Zealand or abroad, kept coming back to was how similar they all were to each other. “We were able to talk one on one about the different aspects of resettlement that interested each of us, and we found so many common issues and concerns,” says Molly. “That was one of the most interesting things for me, not the differences between all of us, but the commonalities.”
“We all do this work because we believe in the contribution that former refugees make to their new countries and because we want to support them to meet the challenges they face,” says Heather. “It was great to hear how impressed our guests were with our programme and how much they felt they learned on their trip. It just proves that the more we come together and learn from each other’s successes and missteps, the more we can improve resettlement outcomes for refugees and build a stronger global community.”
“It was a busy few days,” says Refugee Services Chief Executive Heather Hayden, “but it was an incredibly valuable experience. We were not only able to share our resettlement programme but also learn from each of the representatives as well. Refugee Services’ work is constantly evolving, as we try to improve resettlement outcomes for former refugees, and learning from other countries is very helpful to that development.”
The MRRC programme on the 15th included presentations from Immigration New Zealand, AUT University, the New Zealand National Refugee Network, Auckland Refugee Community Coalition and many other agencies in New Zealand’s refugee sector.
“Everything we shared with the guests was really unique because the New Zealand refugee resettlement system is really unique,” says Aklilu Hibtit, Refugee Services Cross Cultural Worker Team Leader. “It works for us, and it works for most of the refugees we support.”
A key element of the MRRC programme was how often the guests were given the opportunity to hear directly from former refugees about their experiences in New Zealand. Jill Conway, Refugee Services Northern Region Manager, presented with Aklilu on the 6-week MRRC programme for newly arrived former refugees. They outlined the curriculum but also shared words and feelings that Aklilu had collected from former refugees themselves about their experiences at Mangere. The two also organised a panel of 5 former refugees who shared their resettlement experiences. The panellists were from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Burma and had gone through the Mangere programme at very different times in their lives.
“Everyone is different,” says Aklilu, “but so many of the feelings refugees experience at Mangere are the same. I came to New Zealand in 1998 as a refugee from Eritrea. There have been a lot of changes since then, and there are many new resources now, but a lot of the feelings they are having are the same as the ones I had so many years ago. The whole day gave me the chance to reflect on the refugee background point of view. It was a really good experience. We can learn from our guests, and they can learn from us too.”
Following the Mangere visit, the group travelled to Wellington for a two-day programme that shared more about New Zealand’s national refugee resettlement programme, including the new strategy being developed by Department of Labour, as well as what goes on at the local level. They were also welcomed into the homes of Porirua-based clients who shared their personal experiences.
The balance between the morning agenda, which dealt more with policy and information about the national programme, and the afternoon visits to client homes was a high point for Refugee Services Greater Wellington Manager Molly Kennedy. “It was really nice to be able to give them a hands-on experience. It was a chance to see in practice how things worked and meet some of the people who were going through the programme, as well as volunteers who were providing support,” says Molly. “The guests were able to ask questions and compare our systems with those in their own countries.”
The feedback from the visitors about the whole experience was very positive, from acknowledging how the different agencies in the sector work together and communicate to appreciating the opportunity to talk to former refugees and hear how much they felt they were a part of New Zealand. It was an touching experience for many, including Molly.
“It was a great opportunity to step back and look at our programme from a different perspective,” she says. “It was really nice for me personally to hear from clients and volunteers what the programme has meant to them, and for the staff to be part of that experience as well.”
One thing that everyone, from New Zealand or abroad, kept coming back to was how similar they all were to each other. “We were able to talk one on one about the different aspects of resettlement that interested each of us, and we found so many common issues and concerns,” says Molly. “That was one of the most interesting things for me, not the differences between all of us, but the commonalities.”
“We all do this work because we believe in the contribution that former refugees make to their new countries and because we want to support them to meet the challenges they face,” says Heather. “It was great to hear how impressed our guests were with our programme and how much they felt they learned on their trip. It just proves that the more we come together and learn from each other’s successes and missteps, the more we can improve resettlement outcomes for refugees and build a stronger global community.”