Former refugee gives Whangārei students a first hand account

Former refugee Dawit Arshak told Pompallier Catholic College students about his journey as a refugee and working to help new refugees settle in New Zealand. Photo/John Stone

A group of Whangārei students have heard first hand what it was like to be a refugee from an Ethiopian man who walked for 11 days to escape his impoverished, war-torn homeland.

Former refugee Dawit Arshak, originally from Ethiopia, came to New Zealand in 1998 as a refugee from Sudan.

"I walked for 11 days to cross the border," he told Pompallier Catholic College students on a visit to the school.

He had been involved in politics in his homeland and was at risk of being persecuted.

''There was often little food or drink. The desire to live, not to give up, it's a driving force."

Once in Sudan, he spent two months in a refugee camp, before moving to live in Sudan's capital Khartoum. He lived there for 14 years before arriving in New Zealand.

He said the journey was hard, leaving his family, his culture and his homeland behind.

Arshak describes New Zealand as "a beautiful piece of the planet Earth".

Now he works for the Red Cross in Auckland as a cross cultural worker helping other refugees to settle in to New Zealand.

He said the language can be one of the main challenges for refugees, but they often have a resilient mentality and are determined to learn quickly and adapt.

Arshak provides new refugees with support and advocacy as they begin their life in New Zealand.

It was this story he told students at Pompallier Catholic College during Refugee Week last week.

He said his experience was totally new to the students, who were keen to listen.

Red Cross Northland community services manager Nancy Kareroa-Yorke said for the last three years the organisation has been asked to speak to year 10 social studies students at Pompallier College about refugees.

"It's part of bringing life into what they've been studying."

She said there are usually 60 to 90 students who hear Arshak speak and it is always well received.

"This kids are always amazed at his journey."

Arshak has told his story at Pompallier Catholic College for the past three years, and is willing to share his story with other groups, schools and corporate bodies who might be interested.