nileflow network

There’s a big difference between us and them. The rate of development for us has been slow. But all of this has been changing in the last five years.
Just over the ditch, Zimbabweans, Somalians, Tanzanians, Egyptians and other African communities have built a real identity for themselves. Development for them was slow but not snail pace like we see here in god’s own.

Much of the Africans in New Zealand are from a refugee back ground who face many challenges to get them back up on their feet. In other parts of the world, this number is mixed with a steady influx of immigrants fully aware of the risks and benefits from moving to another country. They bring their skills, talents and creativity to set up shop, so to speak. They open business, assume positions of influence and quickly transition into everyday life.

I’m from a refugee background and just about everyone in my small circle of friends is a refugee of sorts.

We’ve changed since the 90’s. We’re at the point where New Zealand is starting to sound like home and our African accents are passed by their use by date.

But that’s no excuse for complacency. Auckland is home to the largest African population in the country. The large majority are still overcoming the difficulties of language, culture and distance.

Efforts to streamline the process of integration has produced little results, by way of introducing real opportunities to families.

The potential largely lies in the hope that their kids make full use of their opportunities. And it seems like it’s paying of

Just recently the University of Auckland and AUT University set up African clubs. A clear demonstration of the growing number of students in academic fields with an African back ground.

Agencies outside of the refugee spectrum are struggling to cater for the developing needs of this generation. Fortunately not all hope is lost

When I was a kid, I had this idea that all of my friends will be somehow with me, working under one roof and we’d all be doing amazingly creative things.

14 years on, we’re not under one roof, but we’re working together.

Networking our talents and skills allows us to fast track development and create real opportunity.

Dr Farooq Wasil, a visiting education expert based in UAE, explained that ethnic individuals have no excuse but to make use of their opportunities.

Over coffee, he outlined the need for more and more individuals excelling in academic, sporting, cultural and other fields, as a means of having a real impact on the things that affect us.

Dr Wasil says, we need to reach a level of common understanding and assume positions that give us leverage.

Being a refugee wasn’t our choice. Getting ourselves out of the cycle of helplessness is.
It’s a personal question that’s often very rarely reflected upon.

When does one stop being a refugee?