Refugee resettlement resumes
The years of work we have invested in welcoming our newest Kiwis hit an unexpected hiatus when our borders closed last year, but the Red Cross advises that resettlement of former refugees is about to resume – and we are looking for willing volunteers to help us lay down the welcome mat.
For Patricia Cooper, our refugee resettlement co-ordinator, the wait is coming to an end as we now look forward to providing household items for six families coming in May. The families come from Iran, Myanmar and Colombia, and Patricia says now is the time for us to think about how we can help.
The process starts with parishes, schools, workplaces and other groups gathering household items in accordance with a list from the Red Cross, then bringing those items to Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, where more volunteers are needed to sort and check the items, assigning the to household lots. Still more volunteers are then needed to take the items to the houses that the former refugees will call home, and set up the house with all of the furniture and items so it is a warm and welcoming home for the new Kiwis to arrive to.
Many former refugees testify to the emotion involved when they cross the threshold of their new home, realising that bucket loads of aroha have contributed into helping them establish there new lives in this peaceful land.
Patricia tells us that volunteers are now needed for all aspects of this important mahi. Some training is required for the house set up part of the puzzle, which is completed at the same time as the volunteer service is completed.
To see what the household set up process looks like, you can watch this video from our Catholic friends (filmed in 2014) who we have partnered with in this work.
To find out more, or to volunteer, please contact Patricia Cooper on patricia@anglicanmovement.nz.
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