Former refugee families embrace learning together at Wintec

Each year on 20 June, the world honours the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution through World Refugee Day.

As the biggest English language provider in the Waikato, Wintec’s Centre for Languages enrols more than 150 refugee-background students each semester. Many of these students have family members also studying at Wintec – either in the English language programmes or mainstream. Together, the families have embraced education and learning as the foundations to building their new lives in New Zealand, gaining valuable skills and experiences and forging friendships along the way. 

The Beigi family from Afghanistan (Seven family members studying) 

Introducing one of the biggest student families at Wintec’s Centre for Languages – the Beigi family from Afghanistan: Khan Ali (father) and Khadija (mother) are both in the Intensive Literacy and Numeracy (ILN) programme. Their children are all in the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (NZCEL) programmes: Mujtaba Level 1 (Foundation), Marzia NZCEL Level 1, Hamid Level 2, Mustafa Level 3 (General), and Fahima Level 3 (Applied) (Academic).

Pictured above, left to right: Hamid, Marzia, Mujtaba, Khan Ali, Khadija, Mustafa, Fahima

The family arrived in New Zealand in January of this year to reunite with the oldest son and brother, who was a translator for the New Zealand army and had been in the country for more than 10 years.

After two years of hardship in Iran prior to their arrival, the family were happy to finally all be together and enjoy the beautiful nature and good air quality New Zealand has to offer. The parents were also grateful for the opportunity for them and the children to study, to meet new people, and to learn a new culture. The family appreciates their new life in Hamilton, and Khan Ali, who used to farm in Afghanistan, loves the abundance of rain in the Waikato the most. 

Both Khadija and Khan Ali value education and their children all have strong ambitions for the future and want to do well so that they can contribute to the society. Marzia and Fahima would like to continue to study in the fields that they were qualified for in Afghanistan but had to abandon due to the rise of the Taliban. Marzia graduated with a degree in Economics and Fahima medical science. Mustafa is keen to pursue a career involving technology, computer science or AI. Hamid would like to study mechanical engineering, having had some practical experience already in this area. Mujtaba is still undecided and is focussing on improving his English first. 

The Alskouri family from Syria (Five family members studying) 

Another large family studying at Wintec is the Alskouri from Syria: Haitham Alskouri (father) is a student in the NZCEL Level 1 (Foundation) programme, Sobhea Mahmoud Zakaria (mother) is in the ILN programme, Aya and Ahmad in the NZCEL Level 2, and Esraa in the NZCEL Level 3 (General). 

The Alskouri family arrived in New Zealand on 3 November 2023 after spending 10 years as refugees in Lebanon. Life was hard in the beginning as the family had very little English to start with. In New Zealand, they learned to appreciate the freedom to study or work and to choose their goals in life. Ahmad is working part-time as a shop assistant as well as studying part-time. He would like to be able to have a better job once his English has improved. Both Esraa and Aya would like to study for a degree at the university in Business and Psychiatry. 

Initially, the family was surprised by the cultural diversity in Hamilton and found it challenging to navigate the differences. However, they now enjoy learning about different cultures and would encourage any newcomers to overcome the challenge and integrate. The family would like to express their gratitude towards their teachers at Wintec and the kind and friendly New Zealand people they have met and made friends with.

Left to right: Ahmad, Esraa, Sobhea, Aya and Haitham

The Absiye family from Somalia (Three sisters studying)

Meet the three Absiye sisters from Somalia: Amina in NZCEL Level 3 (Applied), Sara and Najah both in NZCEL Level 3 (General).Amina, Sara, and Najah were born in Somalia, left the country in 2017 to go to Ethiopia, and came to New Zealand on 15 August 2019 as teenagers. It was a surprise to them at first when they encountered ‘unfriendly’ people in New Zealand. “It was not what we expected,” Amina said. With no English, life was difficult, and they missed their hometown, Las’anood, in Somalia. However, once they were enrolled in a high school and started to make friends, things became easier.

 Left to right: Amina, Sara and Najah

They enjoy studying at Wintec and are making good progress with their English. They also enjoy shopping in New Zealand and although things are more expensive, they enjoy the freedom of buying anything they want. The sisters would like to visit Queenstown one day because they have seen and liked it on TikTok. They would also like to go back to visit their hometown in Somalia in the future. 

Amina’s ambition is to work in the IT profession. Sara and Najah both hope to study Nursing, but Sara wouldn’t mind studying Business if she can’t get into Nursing.

The Ruhumuriza/Nyantore family from Rwanda (Five family members studying)