PAUA Supports Refugee Background Caregivers and Young Learners in Palmerston North
“I really believe in the quality of the service that PAUA offers and that we make a big difference in the lives of many children. I also knew there must be lots of refugee background parents involved in studying to get jobs,” says Tina. “I figured there already must be a lot of care happening within families, and I saw this as another way that families could be supported as they assimilate into the community that I live in. By enrolling in PAUA and becoming a home-based Educator through the programme, families are more able to keep the child’s own culture alive with the customs, language, stories, songs, etc. while also learning about their new country’s culture and customs and language. The home environment allows the children to feel safe and secure while our programme helps provide them with a great educational start.”
Most of the members of the Bhutanese community who have become PAUA home-based Educators are grandparents caring for young children. “It is awesome to see the grandparents learning and growing in their important role of caring for children,” says Tina. “For many of them, they have never done a first aid course before, so that is definitely empowering for them, learning how to save lives if someone is choking or has stopped breathing, etc. They also understand more of the importance of their role in creating a safe, thriving learning environment where the child feels a sense of belonging and well-being and is able to contribute, communicate and explore through learning.”
“We are feeling happy because it is our duty to help our children,” say home-based Educators Indra Gautam and Devi Sanjel, who both look after their grandchildren. “They are young and have to do a lot of things in New Zealand and in their lives, so we are very happy to make their lives in New Zealand better. We are also happy to be earning money and to have PAUA teachers visit us and show us new things and new toys. We get to know more and the children get to know more. Everybody is benefiting.”
For Phampha Gautam, one of the parents whose children are being cared for by their grandmothers, knowing that her children are receiving a high quality education from someone they trust allows her to further her own education and achieve her own resettlement goals. Next year, with the support of her mother and mother-in-law who are both PAUA Educators, she plans to attend English classes full time. “The caregivers make me free to study,” she says. “They are very important and they are doing a lot and helping us a lot.”
For Tina, the experience has been an opportunity to learn about a new culture and share the work about which she is passionate with a new group of people. “What I have learned about the Bhutanese culture is that they are very gracious, friendly and hospitable people. Some won’t let me go without a drink!” she says. “Some of the Educators are picking up English so fast that I can now communicate without an interpreter!”
PAUA's programme has high standards for the Educators, who must complete health and safety audits, police vetting and paediatric first aid qualifications. However the end result has been overwhelmingly positive for the families, the caregivers and the children.
“Through PAUA, the caregivers can look after the child in their own home, have support from an early childhood teacher, and earn money for the family,” says Jenny Pepworth, Refugee Services’ Social Worker in Palmerston North. “Their grandparents feel good about contributing, and it frees up the children’s parents to attend ESOL classes. It’s a valuable contribution to successful resettlement for everyone involved, and it wouldn’t have happened without Tina and PAUA. They’ve been highly supportive, and we’re so grateful for their partnership!”
To learn more about PAUA, please visit their website here.
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