Shared experience for all cultures

It took Zhiyan Basharati two years to feel like a New Zealander. Basharati, now 25 and studying a PhD in forensic psychology through the University of Canterbury, was 11 when she and her family moved from Kurdistan to New Zealand.

‘‘It took a while to settle into Canterbury,’’ she says.

Basharati is now directing the Summerz End Youth Fest, which aims to bring together young people from all walks of life and offer a space for them to find inspiration, affirmation and support –no matter what their cultural, religious or ethnic affiliations are.

‘‘There are so many different cultural festivals for different groups but there is nothing that brings people together at the same time and same place.’’

The fest is returning to Christchurch on March 28 for the second year, after it was established by the Canterbury Refugee Council in April last year. It was attended by 5000 young people at Jellie Park in Burnside.

‘‘It brings people from different places together that have different interests,’’ Basharati says.

It is not about showcasing culture but rather young people sharing their identity through freedom of expression, she says.

‘‘We are all human beings regardless of where we come from.’’

Basharati, who was born into a Kurdish refugee camp, calls Canterbury home and cannot imagine living anywhere else.

Cantabrians are very open and welcoming but she has found some people have not always seen her as a local, she says.

‘‘They don’t see that you’ve grown up here.’’

Getting rid of social stigma through integration – and the stigma within communities – starts from the grassroots and with the youth, Basharati says.

This year’s event will feature New Zealand boy band Titanium, The Laughing Samoans, Ventus and Latin Addiction. The festival has also gained international traction, with medical visitors from the Management and Science University of Malaysia attending.

Basharati, the spokeswoman and co-ordinator for the Canterbury Refugee Council, has used her knowledge of people’s needs and wants to offer the ‘‘inclusive’’ festival.

A new feature of the festival this year is the inclusion of a number of artists, who will be practising on site and interacting with festivalgoers.

Summerz End Youth Fest at the Jellie Park skatepark, March 28, noon-6pm.

Photos: DEAN KOZANIC/FAIRFAX NZ Community focused: Summerz End Youth Festival organiser Zhiyan Basharati is bringing Jellie Park to life with her second festival at the end of March.

Festive fun: Summerz End Youth Festival at Jellie Park. Traditional African drumming was taught by Robert Fugah with Rythm Heke, centre, and June Dahlia, from Purapura Whetu Maori Youth group, giving it a go.