Refugee helps others follow her path
ONE helper supporting former refugees arriving in Dunedin this week knows their struggle well.
Syrian woman Hadil Catherina (33) came to Dunedin in December 2017.
Barely a year later, the former refugee is training as a Red Cross volunteer to help settle others like her.
‘‘When I came, I knew noone and volunteers really helped. I want to try and support people in the same way.’’
Ms Catherina started training for the volunteer role this month.
She will help her assigned family with tasks like enrolling children in school and organising doctor visits.
Her personal experience would likely help.
‘‘For example, volunteers here have cars, so they don’t know how to use the bus.
‘‘It was easy for me to find out, but it might not be for other newcomers if their English isn’t good.’’
Ms Catherina spent five years in Malaysia before being accepted into New Zealand through its refugee resettlement programme.
She said those years had highs and lows, but gave her skills and experience.
In her time there, she had various jobs including a hostel receptionist, chef, graphic designer, photographer and painter.
She was ‘‘so excited’’ when she was accepted into New Zealand.
‘‘It was a dream come true.
‘‘It’s slightly different from the videos on Youtube — much better.’’
Ms Catherina is originally from Damascus, where much of her family still lives.
She now lives in Wakari. This year she is taking a foundation course in English at the University of Otago and next year wants to study occupational therapy.
She has a bachelor of fine arts degree from Syria majoring in graphic design.
Red Cross New Zealand volunteer programme lead Leisa de Klerk said Ms Catherina’s experience would be ‘‘incredibly valuable’’.
She was the first person to go through resettlement in Dunedin and become a refugee volunteer.