Kia ora e te whānau, 

Welcome to the final stretch of Trimester 2! I hope the mid-trimester break gave you some time to relax and check in with yourself. 

Here's what's in our newsletter:
🌱 Meeting our future Te Herenga Waka whānau
✍🏽 Student Column
💼 Mentoring and internship opportunities
👥 Vic Without Barriers—committee positions available
🌍 World Refugee Day reflection
🧠 Mental Health Awareness Week
🎨 Share your artwork
💻 Your Refugee-Background Adviser—contact information

Abdul Samad Haidari
Kaiārahi Tauira Konene - Refugee Background Student Adviser

Meeting our future Te Herenga Waka whānau

I recently joined a panel at Hutt Valley High School for Inspiring the Future Aotearoa, led by senior ESOL students from refugee and migrant backgrounds. One student dreamed of becoming an engineer, another of sharing their stories through the arts. We gathered into groups to discuss their interests and aspirations. Many of these young students’ ambitions parallel yours––as you achieve your goals, step by step, you can be proud that you’re helping illuminate the pathway for others to follow.

Alongside my colleagues, I also introduced future students and their whānau to the range of support offered by Mana Taurite me te Oranga Tauira—Student Equity and Wellbeing at Open Day 2025. It was wonderful to see so many students looking forward to starting the next chapter of their lives at Te Herenga Waka, and buzzing with excitement about the amazing programmes and services that we offer.

Student column

My name is Hanadi Al Bakhas, and I was born in Homs, Syria.

When I was four, my mother ran a small shop from our house. As her best (and most spoiled) customer, I shared my free (to me) inventory with friends while we played games in the street. Life was simple and full of excitement.

Then, overnight, everything changed. Suddenly, I was navigating childhood in the Syrian civil war, supported by faith and small moments of joy. When we fled to Lebanon the following year, I left behind a little piece of Hanadi (my childhood joy)—playing in the yard with my cat.

In Lebanon, I encountered degrading comments, but walked away with a smile and a promise that I would persevere and succeed. In our culture, the eldest daughter earns respect by being a good role model. While not always easy, I stayed strong to support my family—I cared for my younger siblings and helped with housework and family events while carrying a sense of pride and grace.

Through the refugee quota programme, we were resettled in Aotearoa New Zealand. Everything felt unfamiliar—the cold weather, food, and language. Eventually, I felt at home here, dreaming of becoming a gynaecologist. I set out to learn English at the Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre in Auckland. and continued at the Corinna School in Wellington. By the time I left Corinna School, I could speak English well. Persisting through several declined applications, I was eventually accepted into Mana College.

My dream of becoming a doctor was strong, but this changed. Reflecting on my life and the value of living close to family, I became inspired to become a lawyer, realising that I’d already begun the journey—advocating for my family, speaking to police, and liaising with community agencies. I could still help people while staying close to my family, but needed to continue strengthening my English skills to meet the University’s entry requirements.

During the University’s information sessions, I met Abdul. He later arranged an appointment for me with the director of the Future Students team and accompanied me to every meeting. They connected me with Whitireia WelTec, where I studied for three months to prepare for University entry. I completed extra credits and graduated with excellent results.

Every step has been hard work, and full of small, joyful victories—like helping my mum navigate the University to attend the refugee-background student welcome, juggling phone calls and GPS navigation while laughing together.

We have a saying in Arabic:

“الطريق إلى النجاح مكسوٌّ بالعمل الشاق—The road to success is paved with hard work.” —Ibrahim Al-Faqi

Today, I truly understand what that means. I am proud of my parents and the sacrifices they made. Here I am, pursuing my law degree at Te Herenga Waka. I’m proud of myself too! I hope to continue inspiring my younger siblings. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.

My experience as a refugee-background student at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has been incredible. The support from both students and staff has truly helped me feel part of a welcoming and inclusive community.

I have been both surprised and overwhelmed by the opportunities that have come my way. These have not only helped me succeed but also thrive across all areas of university life.

Some of my most memorable achievements include receiving a school-leaver scholarship, speaking as a guest panellist, working alongside academics to help restructure degree programmes, and being featured in various articles and newsletters.

I have also been fortunate to take on several paid roles, including Student Wellbeing Facilitator, tutor, and teaching assistant. The University’s culture is unlike any other— diverse, open-minded, and genuinely supportive, making it easy to meet people and form meaningful connections.

There’s always something happening on campus. From basketball tournaments and consulting competitions to writing workshops and movie nights. The wide range of events means there’s something for everyone. Many of these are hosted by clubs and societies, which are fantastic spaces for meeting like-minded students and building community.

I’ve enjoyed being involved in several clubs and programmes such as VicCom, Hong Kong Society, Victoria Business Consulting (VBC), the Wellington International Leadership Programme, and Wellington Plus. These extracurriculars have helped me build leadership skills and give back to the university community.

Looking ahead, I intend to complete my bachelor’s and pursue postgraduate studies in a Master's. My goal is to travel overseas, expand my skill set, and gain valuable international experience. I am excited for what lies ahead and am deeply grateful for the foundation Te Herenga Waka has given me.

Do you have a helpful study tip, a way to look after your wellbeing, or a story that might lift someone’s spirits? We want to hear from you!

Send us a short submission for our student column with your practical advice or positive perspective. It could be about:

• how you manage your workload
• what helps you stay connected
• something that made your day better.

Submissions should be:

• uplifting, encouraging, or empowering
• focused on study, wellbeing, or campus life
• submitted as a Word document
• 250 words or less.

We’ll feature selected tips in our newsletter to support and inspire others.

📧 Send your tips to: Refugee-BackgroundStudents@vuw.ac.nz

🗓️ You can submit anytime!
📝 Please note: submissions may be edited for clarity or length.

Mentoring and internship opportunities

If you're currently enrolled in or are completing any of the following programmes, you may be nominated to the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) for mentoring or internship opportunities in these sectors:

• International Studies
• Public Policy
• Refugee and Migration Studies
• Community Engagement
• Public Services
  • Public Policy and Management programme
  • Administration and Governance-focused degrees.

Vic Without Barriers—committee positions available

Vic Without Barriers is a student-led club for students from refugee backgrounds that provides academic support and social activities.

The current committee’s term has come to an end, and there’s an opportunity for five passionate people to lead the club.

They’re looking for:

• President
• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Social Media person
• Equity and Inclusion representative

If you’re interested in being part of the Vic Without Barriers committee, please get in touch with Abdul to find out more information.

6–12 October is Mental Health Awareness Week

📅 Mental Health Awareness Week is coming soon

Te Herenga Waka, in collaboration with VUWSA, is putting together a University-wide programme for students and staff across all three campuses, designed to support wellbeing and strengthen social connections. This year’s theme is Top Up Together, which encourages us to connect with others and top up our mental meters. Follow @vuwequitywellbeing for updates on the programme for Mental Health Awareness Week.

But don’t wait till then to focus on your wellbeing! Use this Wellbeing Kete module, Reflecting on your wellbeing, to help you live in alignment with your values and enhance your wellbeing.

If you complete this module by Tuesday 30 September, you go into the draw to win 1 of 5 $20 Campus Books vouchers and can also claim Wellington Plus Points! 

World Refugee Day reflection

We collaborated with ChangeMakers, HostInternational, Voice of Aroha, and Red Cross to honour World Refugee Day. Walking into The Hub, you could smell the cumin and cardamom from one table, fresh herbs and cinnamon from another, prompting guests to swap recipes. Five hundred people moved between food stalls as music shifted from traditional drums to contemporary beats. Dance circles brought diverse people together to learn fun dances from each other.

Here are some of the messages we collected on the day to inspire refugee journeys. You may like to share these with your community:

Believe in yourself.
There is so much power in who you are!
Tell your story, your way.

—Afnan Al-Rubayee, former refugee
Senior Advisor (Strategy & Governance) Refugee and Migrant Support Team, MBIE

Your strength and will can see you through. We see you, feel for you, and we are working to make change.

—Manin, former refugee

KIA KAHA!
STAND TOGETHER
STAND STRONG
We're all with you—sending aroha!

—Anonymous

Be proud of who you are.
One Love! We are lucky to have you.

—Anonymous

Join us next year! And if you have any ideas for the event, discuss it over a cuppa with Abdul!

Share your artwork

We're continuing our tradition of storytelling through art and want to see your creative work.

Why share?

Inspire others and get noticed in our community. Your artwork could be featured in our newsletter, social media, or webpage. Plus, you'll get a token of appreciation if selected. Don't worry, we'll return your artwork if you ask.

What are we looking for?

Show us your journey—whether it's about climate, humanity, courage, strength, achievements, or life experiences. We can't wait to see what you create!

Submission guidelines 

• Artwork format—Any medium (JPEG or PNG, max 10MB).
• Your bio—A brief summary about your life and accomplishments (45-60 words, PDF or Word Doc).
• Portrait—Your favourite image of yourself (JPEG or PNG).
• Submission—Email your work to refugee-backgroundstudents@vuw.ac.nz.
• Closing date—5 pm, Monday 22 November 2025.

Your Refugee-Background Adviser—contact information

Stay connected

Check out our website for useful information www.wgtn.ac.nz/refugee-background

Follow us on Instagram @vuwequitywellbeing

Connect with us on Facebook

Questions? Email refugee-backgroundstudents@vuw.ac.nz