Sharing the Kiwi way

BY RANI TIMOTI

Many little things make life easier for refugees learning the Kiwi way of life.

Chris Spencer of Kaukapakapa provides helpful tips and practical service as a volunteer helping families find their feet in Waitakere city.

Chris has given advice on not to mow the lawn early on a weekend, when to wear shoes and how to find a classic comedian’s DVDs.

For nearly two years he has helped Iraqi, Eritrean and Burmese families with basic living necessities.

He also shows them how to pay bills, enrol in English courses, look for jobs and medical services, start their children in schools and join community activities.

The learning goes both ways with strangers becoming friends, gaining new languages, understanding customs and enjoying plenty of delicious meals.

"You get to know the family and work out what suits," says Chris.

The grandfather has been impressed with the strong family values among refugees.

"They make very good use of parks and like outings. They really respect their elders and don’t put them in old folks homes."

He says he gets more out of the experience than he puts in.

"Just being with them has opened my eyes a lot more. Basically people are still similar – they just want what everyone else wants."

A strong interest in other cultures, more available time and spotting an article in a community newspaper inspired Chris to become a volunteer.

It’s also helped the social calendar of the father of three.

"I started with four people on my cellphone, but now it’s over 200."

Chris understands refugees are the innocent victims of war, persecution, discrimination, racism and oppression who are forced to flee their homeland for nothing more than their ethnicity, religion or beliefs.

"You never pry knowing that they’ve been through really bad experiences. You don’t try and bring up bad memories. It’s up to them if they want to tell you."

Although far from suffering hardship as a youngster who immigrated in the 1950s with his parents from the United Kingdom, he remembers what it feels like to assimilate in a new country.

"I’ve changed my views a lot over the last couple of years. It’s vitally important for our ethnic people to be comfortable with their ethnicity. If you let go of where you come from I think you’ll be a lesser Kiwi," he says.

"I’m 100 percent Kiwi but I don’t forget where I come from."

Helping make a start

Volunteers are encouraged to give a welcoming smile and helping hand for refugees.

During this week’s Volunteer Awareness Week and World Refugee Day, there will be displays at Waitakere libraries and Citizens Advice Bureaus.

Each year New Zealand welcomes 750 refugees, most of whom are escaping from war-torn homelands.

Joanna Biss from Refugee Services, New Zealand’s national refugee resettlement agency, says the organisation does social work, cross-cultural work and volunteer support to ease the refugees into a fresh start.

"The work volunteers do is essential. Along with practical help such as finding furniture and helping refugees get to appointments, volunteers provide a welcoming smile for people when arriving to a strange land."

The theme for World Refugee Day is Real People, Real Needs.

A training course starts for volunteers on July 15.

Call 621-0014 or go to www.refugeeservices.org.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News