I didn't want my retirement to be all about me

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When Pat retired from managing the facilities at the YMCA, she was left with a lot of spare time to think about what to do next.

When asked why she wanted to volunteer with RMS Refugee Resettlement, Pat says she didn’t want her retirement to be all about her.

“I wanted to continue being involved in the community, but in a way that was different and new.”

Pat found the comprehensive training programme with RMS Refugee Resettlement, provided her with a deeper understanding of the refugee experience. Through learning about the countries refugees come from and the issues they experience during the resettlement process, Pat says volunteer support workers are well equipped with the knowledge and care needed to walk alongside refugees as they build new lives in their new homeland.

Volunteers also provide logistical support to refugees - linking refugees to community services, setting up their homes and explaining seemingly simple things like bus routes and bills. But more importantly, volunteers offer invaluable friendship to people who have had to leave their own support system of family and friends behind.

Pat says she enjoys volunteering with RMS Refugee Resettlement because the hours are flexible and it’s up to each person how much time they can spend with the family. She also finds it interesting to meet people from different cultures. Pat and her volunteer team were matched with an extended family of nine from the Karen state of Burma.

“The nieces and nephews are all great fun and sweet and speak English well. The aunt is always so positive, and never gets down. The uncle used to be an elephant trainer and seemed to be well respected in his community.”

Pat says the uncle finds it difficult to understand the bureaucratic side of New Zealand but certainly can move around quite easily.

“One time we took the whole family out to Karekare for a walk on the beach and he said he’d just been there the other day, fishing!”

Pat says the experience of volunteering has led to a greater awareness of the often harrowing journey refugees go through in order to reach security and safety. She says she has a deeper empathy with the challenges they face living in New Zealand communities. But it was hearing about their journey to the camp that had an impact on Pat and her outlook on refugees and what they have to endure.

“They had to walk for a month through the forests to get to the camp, hiding in the jungle when they were shot at by soldiers.”

Despite their incredibly difficult journey Pat found that the family have a very positive outlook.

“Their young son is a real character. He loves his Kiwi school and soccer. He’s made friends with people from all sorts of different ethnic backgrounds. He regularly goes to Sunday School with the church being the most important social link for all the family.”

Pat’s main role is to advocate on behalf of the refugees and to connect them to different key people that they would not have otherwise had access to.

Seeking employment has been important to the family. Last summer Pat talked to a number of employers and secured work at the local Tegel factory for some of the family. They are hoping to return this summer after Unitec finishes.

“The factory owners loved them, as they could see they were not only friendly but also conscientious and reliable workers.”

Although helping the family initially took up some time, they are now more independent and Pat spends her time enjoying her new found friendships, both with the refugee family and with her volunteer team.

Pat encourages others to take up a volunteer support role with RMS Refugee Resettlement as a way of widening their view of the world and making a world of difference.

RMS Refugee Resettlement, New Zealand’s national resettlement agency. A not-for profit, non-governmental organisation, assisting in the resettlement of the 750 quota refugees the Government accepts each year.

Interested in volunteering?
http://www.rms.org.nz/volunteering-with-rms.html

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