By Wael Aldroubi, Project Administrator – HOST International NZ “It is an amazing initiative. I enjoyed the sessions so much. Can I register for the next one?” – Culture Without Borders participant HOST International NZ is delighted to begin our Culture Without Borders programme this month in collaboration with our community partner, Vogelmorn Community Group…
HOST NZ was very pleased to be founding partner for the inaugural Techfugees NZ Hackathon which ran in Wellington on 25-26 May 2019. It was the first time tech solutions have been introduced in New Zealand to start tackling the challenges that new Kiwis experience during their resettlement in Wellington. Techfugees NZ is part of…
HOST International NZ attended local New Zealand eatery Home Kitchen’s opening launch in Hamilton. Home Kitchen is a new social enterprise and eatery that empowers former refugees to flourish by providing work and training and showcases the best food our diverse refugee community has to offer. “Our vision is to create experiences where people can…
By: Rochelle Stewart-Allen, Senior Manager, New Zealand When HOST International NZ first met with Khaled Al Jouja through ChangeMakers Resettled Forum, we were immediately impressed by his determination and commitment to build a market garden business in Wellington, New Zealand. Since arriving in New Zealand from Syria with his family in 2016, Khaled has worked…
By: Rochelle Stewart-Allen, New Zealand Senior Manager As we draw to the close of January 2019, it seems the perfect time to look back over HOST International’s first year working in New Zealand. First up, we began 2018 as a completely unknown brand in New Zealand. With HOST International’s work overseas, specifically in Australia and…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen, New Zealand Senior Manager “It’s high time we started welcoming former refugees into our New Zealand workplaces and recognise they bring entrepreneurial skills, diverse language expertise and a global perspective to our organisations.” – Rochelle Stewart-Allen, NZ Manager, HOST International HOST International NZ is now actively working with New Zealand employers to…
Resettled New Zealanders are often qualified, multilingual and bring diverse experience and thinking. By Rochelle Stewart-Allen, HOST Senior Manager New Zealand In New Zealand, there is a global talent pool that has entrepreneurial skills, is multilingual, and offers diverse thinking at a time when New Zealand is consistently praising the benefits of bringing new voices…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen, HOST Senior Manager New Zealand In New Zealand, we have a long list of skill shortages that need to be filled to ensure we’re meeting the needs of our growing population. We need more farmers (beef and dairy), arborists and market gardeners. We need construction managers, university lecturers, mechanical engineers, midwifes and…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen, HOST Senior Manager New Zealand HOST International is delighted to be welcoming British economist Philippe Legrain to New Zealand in August 2018. This is a unique opportunity to hear a critically acclaimed thinker and writer present his research on the economic value of welcoming and employing refugees. Philippe’s research shows that…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen “It doesn’t matter how you see me, I am a part of you,” were the poignant words that Abann Yor greeted the Wellington crowd with at the World Refugee Day Celebration in Wellington, New Zealand, last week. Abann, General Manager of the Auckland Resettled Community Coalition, explained the difference between the refugee…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen Arriving as a refugee in a new country means it’s time to build a new life. This can look markedly different than the lifestyle a refugee may previously have lived in their home country, but what remains constant is that person’s set of professional skills, qualifications and experience. Although skills and experience…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen, HOST Senior Manager New Zealand With the largest refugee crisis since World War II currently underway, British economist Philippe Legrain says developed countries have not only a humanitarian and legal obligation to welcome refugees, but it’s important to recognise that investing in refugees can yield significant economic returns. As co-founder of the…