By Matilda Herben, Team Leader Nauru “You take what’s thrown at you, and you make a life out of it.” This is a quote from Rula Ghani, First Lady of Afghanistan, who spoke at the Devex Conference in Washington, US, that I attended in June. I have worked for HOST for just over 12 months,…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen, HOST Senior Manager New Zealand HOST International is delighted to be welcoming British economist Philippe Legrain to New Zealand in August 2018. This is a unique opportunity to hear a critically acclaimed thinker and writer present his research on the economic value of welcoming and employing refugees. Philippe’s research shows that…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen “It doesn’t matter how you see me, I am a part of you,” were the poignant words that Abann Yor greeted the Wellington crowd with at the World Refugee Day Celebration in Wellington, New Zealand, last week. Abann, General Manager of the Auckland Resettled Community Coalition, explained the difference between the refugee…
By David Keegan, HOST CEO There’s a growing body of research and analyses, bolstered by personal stories, that shows refugees and former refugees enliven economies and cultures. Yet, despite the evidence, perceptions of refugees as a burden persist. Ethical, humanitarian and moral considerations aside for a second, refugees offer a society human capital. Research shows,…
Ms Abeera Abdullah is a student at Fugee School, in Malaysia, an author and a member of the Project Stand Up youth team as well as an inspiring leader My name is Abeera Abdullah, I’m an 18-year-old student at Fugee School*, in Malaysia. I’ve lived here since 2016 after arriving as a refugee of Somali…
By Jason Spierings Throughout my volunteer work for Fugee School, through the CandleLighters Volunteer Program, I have been working on a mapping and coordination project in collaboration with the UNHCR education unit. The UNHCR has not previously been able to focus on secondary education, so there is little information available about what schools are providing…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen Arriving as a refugee in a new country means it’s time to build a new life. This can look markedly different than the lifestyle a refugee may previously have lived in their home country, but what remains constant is that person’s set of professional skills, qualifications and experience. Although skills and experience…
By Zoe Stewart Last week, in the CandleLighters Volunteer Program in Malaysia, I spent a few days shadowing one of SUKA Society’s Case Managers, as he met with newly-referred unaccompanied minors who are living in the community in Kuala Lumpur. From this experience, it was made very apparent the desperate need for SUKAs Unaccompanied and…
For most of her life Nawa watched on as other children went to school. As a refugee, and a girl at that, she was told there was no place for her in the classroom. At 16, Nawa became a student at the Fugee School in Malaysia. Source. By David Keegan, HOST International CEO South East…
By Rochelle Stewart-Allen, HOST Senior Manager New Zealand With the largest refugee crisis since World War II currently underway, British economist Philippe Legrain says developed countries have not only a humanitarian and legal obligation to welcome refugees, but it’s important to recognise that investing in refugees can yield significant economic returns. As co-founder of the…
The “CandleLighters” Volunteer Program is an initiative of HOST International to provide development opportunities to staff by supporting them on volunteer assignments overseas. These opportunities are designed to enhance the capacity of overseas refugee host organisations that are closely aligned with the purpose, objectives and values of HOST International. Zoe, 31, is a few days…
The “CandleLighters” Volunteer Program is an initiative of HOST International to provide development opportunities to staff by supporting them on volunteer assignments overseas. These opportunities are designed to enhance the capacity of overseas refugee host organisations that are closely aligned with the purpose, objectives and values of HOST International. Jason, 31, is a few days…