“Volunteers bring additional hands and hearts to the Red Cross.”

“Volunteers bring additional hands and hearts to the Red Cross.”

Over 900 New Zealand Red Cross volunteers support former refugees across Aotearoa.

For example, one of our refugee support volunteer teams in Dunedin, of 4 volunteers, work hard to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilising the power of humanity and enhancing community resilience. We want to celebrate this volunteer team for their diversity of perspective and skills, and background knowledge, all of which are extremely valuable when relating to the diverse families Red Cross support.

A genuine concern for the wellbeing of others is at the heart of everything Refugee Resettlement Volunteers do, supporting change and strengthening communities by supporting a new Kiwi family, or individual, to make a new life here in New Zealand. Recently, the team supported a resilient single mum of 5 from Afghanistan, who had a low level of English, to settle into the Dunedin community.

This volunteer team already weaves people together as our volunteers come from various walks of life. We have international students as well as those who are born and bred in Otepoti for generations. What they all share is a commitment to the Red Cross cause; a passion for human rights, compassion for vulnerable people and the desire to make a positive impact in their local community.

This deep commitment amongst the team fosters a sense of community ownership and involvement. Volunteers often experience personal growth and development and gain a better understanding of resilience from those they support.

A huge thanks to all NZ Red Cross Volunteers across the Southern region and Aotearoa for the support they provide to communities of former refugees. Explore roles with the Red Cross here.

Written for Volunteer South by Mona Tavakoli