ChangeMakers Refugee Forum

ChangeMakers Refugee Forum is a rights-based, non-government organisation (NGO) representing over 14 refugee-background communities in Wellington New Zealand.

RECENT INITIATIVES 

Are you a Work and Income client who is thinking of starting your own business?

ChangeMakers has an opportunity to support 10-12 people from refugee backgrounds who are Work and Income clients to set up a business.

Enrol in our Refugees into Business programme and get the chance to be part of Work and Income’s Be Your Own Boss.  If your business plan looks achievable, Work and Income may be able to assist with start-up funding for your business.

Contact Mohammad here at ChangeMakers for more information: 801 5812 or email him at mohammad@crf.org.nz
 

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Do you have a problem with your HNZC house?

If you have an issue with your HNZC house, call 0800 801 601

HNZC policy is for:

  • urgent repairs: a contractor needs to visit you within 4 hours of call
  • non-urgent repairs: a contractor needs to visit you within 10 days

Make a note of the date and time of your call.

If you don’t get a response, call again. Let them know how many times you have called and give them the dates when you have called.

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Be part of their journey

One of our latest initiatives is a Driver’s Licence programme, supporting 21 women from refugee backgrounds to obtain their full driver’s licence. Over 90 women applied to be part of the project. To continue to make this happen, we need your support.

Women from refugee background communities identified the need to obtain a licence as their number one priority to feel connected and reach their potential.

Having a licence means:
•    decreased dependency on others for transportation
•    the chance to be part of community activities
•    the ability to drive family members to appointments and to respond quickly when there is an emergency
•    a greater opportunity to gain employment and participate in the wider community.  

ChangeMakers is proud to be leading their journey – and invites you to be part of it too.

Contributing to the Driver’s Licence project is easy. Just visit our webpage on Give a Little.

Your donation will make a significant difference to these women, their families, and communities. It will enable them to reach their destination.

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Women's festival

More than 80 women from refugee background came together on January 19th 2013 to dance, share food, coffee and tea.

The occasion was a great opportunity for women from different communities and backgrounds to get to know each other, strengthen ties, and have fun.

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New research from ChangeMakers Refugee Forum highlights lack of support for people from refugee backgrounds with disability needs.

All New Zealanders with disability needs have the right to live independently, participate fully in society, receive clear information about their disability and receive comprehensive services.

However, ChangeMakers’ research found that in Wellington, disability strategies do not include people from refugee backgrounds. There is also lack of coordination across refugee, healthcare, and disability agencies. These factors combined have resulted in people from refugee backgrounds with disability needs not enjoying their right to participate in their communities, instead living in protracted isolation and with limited independence.

Read the report: ‘If we have to go on our own, so be it’. The challenges faced accessing disability support services by Wellington’s refugee-background communities.

Read the executive summary here

For more information or to get involved in the initiative to improve outcomes for people from refugee backgrounds with disability needs, contact Alia Bloom at alia@crf.org.nz.

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Refugee-background communities welcome Wellington Family Violence Campaign

A new campaign against family violence has been welcomed by ChangeMakers Refugee Forum.

The campaign, launched at the beginning of August, features two representatives from Wellington's refugee-background community.

'We need to educate and we can't wait' says, Faduma Moallin, leader of the Somali community and who features in campaign posters.

Family violence occurs across all religious and cultural groups - regardless of ethnicity or citizenship. However, international research has found that immigrant families experience higher incidences of family violence than their 'local' counterparts, and there is increasing awareness about the heightened risk of family violence faced by refugee-background women.

John Aloro, leader of the Sudanese community, also features in the campaign and says 'Everyone has the right to a peaceful coexistence - saying sorry after doesn't change the fact that damage has been done.'

The Wellington campaign includes a website of services that can make it easier for people who are living with violence to get help.

ChangeMakers is a member of the Te Rito Family Violence Network.

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One of our graduates from the Speakers Bureau programme, Dennis Maang, was a guest speaker at Parliament in a breakfast organised by UNHCR and Refugee Services in honour of World Refugee Day 2012.

Dennis, originally from Chin State in Myanmar/Burma, delivered an impressive presentation on his experience resettling in Aotearoa New Zealand since his arrival in 2008. He currently works with Refugee Services as a caseworker and is studying social work at Te Wananga O Aotearoa in Porirua with the goal of becoming a fully qualified social worker.

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Employment Research

ChangeMakers latest research report 'People from refugee backgrounds can do the job' highlights the factors that enable refugee-background people to gain employment.

ChangeMakers held interviews and focus groups with 17 people from 11 different communities who were all in employment. To read the report click here.

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Want to learn more about refugees' lives in New Zealand?

A recent 20/20 TV programme features the stories of two refugee families from very different backgrounds who feel grateful to call New Zealand their home.

Let them inspire you - watch the clip here.

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