Support a former refugee at the time of tragedy

$2,245 of $5,000 goal

Given by 37 generous donors in 21 days

This is an emergency fundraising effort by CRF to raise funds for sudden death of a young person in the refugee community in Wellington.

Wellington

There has been a tragic and sudden death of a young person in the refugee community in Wellington.

This is an emergency fundraising effort by ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum to raise funds to contribute to the family’s immediate and ongoing needs, such as the funeral, travel costs to bring family members from overseas, and accommodation.

Maintaining the family’s privacy is important at this time, which is why we have kept their details anonymous and information about the tragedy limited.

All money raised in this fund will be given by ChangeMakers directly to the family who will decide themselves how it is best spent.

ChangeMakers will also be contributing to a wider community effort to provide wrap around support to the family at this time.

Any contribution you are able to make is hugely appreciated.

About us

ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum (CRF) is a rights-based, non-government organisation (NGO) working alongside more than 23 refugee-background communities, predominantly in the Greater Wellington and Wairarapa regions (Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington and Masterton) but also in Levin and Palmerston North. Our objective is to see New Zealanders of refugee background fully participating in life in Aotearoa New Zealand.

We provide a wide range of community development programmes, which are ever evolving and growing; carry out client centred research into the challenges and successes or refugee settlement; and work in advocacy across all levels of society to facilitate systems change, in order to ensure former refugees are included and empowered to engage and positively contribute to their local communities. Our programmes and activities include:-

-Turning the Curve and Driving for Inclusion - supporting former refugees obtain their New Zealand driver licence.

-Community Development - helping former refugee families to find positive solutions, that empower them to thrive.

-Group work – including women’s groups, sports, youth activities, workshops to allow for upskilling and connection.

-World Refugee Day & Change the Narrative project – celebrating the difference and contribution that former refugees make.

-Leadership Council Meetings, Youth Leaders Meetings and Community Hui – strengthening communities and ensuring our work is driven by their self-identified needs.

-Advocacy and social and systematic change – raising awareness and challenging the systems that keep former refugees marginalised.

Underpinning our work is a strengths-based approach, which emphasises the positive contribution former refugees make to Aotearoa.

We are governed by a Board comprised of former refugees. Working in the sector since 2001, we play a significant role in national refugee resettlement and are key members of the national Refugee Alliance.

Our vision stems from a recognition by former refugees that their voices needed to be heard, incorporating the ‘nothing about us without us’ principle. Working alongside former refugees we promote the many positive contributions that people from former refugee backgrounds bring and ensure that the rights and needs of Kiwis from refugee backgrounds are at the forefront of policy making and implementation.

Funding will ensure that we have the staff and infrastructure to continue running our essential programmes and activities, thus fulfilling our mission of seeing ‘New Zealanders of refugee-background fully participating in New Zealand life.’