Dear Friends of the Auckland Refugee Family Trust,
Despite the challenges of the pandemic raging offshore, we have been able to continue to help reunite refugee families here in New Zealand, thanks to your ongoing kindness.
Recently we were thrilled to be able to support seven children who travelled to New Zealand to join family here. All arrived here in good health, completed their quarantine and are now attending school. We received the following message from the family that we would like to pass on to you - all the people who have supported us and made this reunification possible.
“I don't know where to start to tell you how happy and relieved we are having all the kids here with us, especially during this time with Covid and the situation back home. There is a saying in my language, "May God repay you in good deeds." I hope one day we are able to help some in need, too. The children are very happy and pleased to be here and everyone is settling well and I can't thank enough the team at the Auckland Refugee Family Trust and the people who donated to make this dream happen. "ANGELS SENT FROM GOD "God bless you all and give you the courage and opportunities to help more. I hope I am able to help in future too.”
Another father had this to share: “I was in despair that I would never see my beloved wife and children again. Thanks to the generous and compassionate donations of ARFT supporters they arrived safely last week and are now in MIQ. I am incredibly grateful and cannot wait to see them. With your support and the many freedoms we enjoy in this country, my family and I are motivated to do well and contribute to society.”
We are delighted to be able to share such happy news - but we are also aware that there are other families who have applied to us for support and are waiting to be reunited, including a father whose family is in a very unsafe situation overseas and who has not seen his children for four years. For the price of winter holiday we can bring five children to join their parents and fulfil their hopes of starting a new life in peace.
The price of international airfares has risen substantially - and our coffers are empty. If you are able to help by contributing to the cost of the travel, we know these families will be as grateful as those we have already been able to assist.
Any funds received go directly towards airfares and related travel costs that will reunite refugee families. Everyone we support has already been granted a visa by Immigration NZ and will undergo testing and book MIQ places as required.
Our givealittle page is https://givealittle.co.nz/org/arft
All donations over $5 are tax deductible. Our regular donors are the lifeblood of the Trust – a donation equivalent to a cup of coffee a week can tip the balance.
Many thanks for your continued support from all of us at the Trust - and from all those families safely together in New Zealand, as a result of your generosity.
The Trustees
