Empowering youth from refugee backgrounds

“RASNZ was founded in 1995 with the support of the Mental Health Foundation and is now well established as New Zealand's leading mental health and wellbeing service for people from refugee backgrounds. Our years of working alongside communities have resulted in solid, collaborative and trustworthy relationships; we strive to engage people with refugee backgrounds at every level of our organisation.” - Refugees as Survivors New Zealand.

In 2022, RAS Youth received a multi-year grant to support their Youth Service provider in creating social inclusion opportunities and services for young people with refugee backgrounds.

Founded in 2011 in response to a request from the Somali community for a sports activity programme, RAS Youth has significantly evolved over the past 13 years. Today, it is a comprehensive youth service that offers a wide range of tailored support for young people from refugee backgrounds resettling in Aotearoa. This evolution has allowed RAS Youth to address diverse needs more effectively. Now seamlessly integrated with its umbrella organization, RASNZ, the programme provides holistic and responsive support, thereby enhancing its impact and reach.

“We know that refugee-background youth face unique challenges and opportunities. Adolescence is already a challenging time for anyone, but these young people are also going navigating the challenges of resettlement: new language, new school, new culture, and often holding a lot of responsibility at home to help their parents.” – Faith Barker, RAS Youth Team Leader

Distinguished by its team, 90% of whom have lived experience of the refugee journey, RAS Youth deliver a range of programmes which are co-designed with young people. The kaupapa centres on social inclusion and meaningful participation from young people, ensuring that programmes remain relevant and responsive to the needs of individuals from refugee backgrounds who access the service.

“It’s important for [my daughter] because she can participate in spaces that she can’t access in the wider community, with other young people who have similar experiences to her. Since coming to RAS Youth, she feels safer. She likes to go to the activities, she has been able to meet friends, enjoy herself, and be part of a community.” – Ximena, mother of a RAS Youth participant.

The holistic approach of RAS Youth is pivotal in supporting young people aged 13 to 22 to thrive in New Zealand. By actively involving the youth in the co-design of the programmes, the service offers a variety of supports, including weekly study support groups, driver's licence training, assistance with finding employment and holiday jobs, youth leadership training, sports, swimming lessons, and social and recreational activities. The addition of counselling and social work services further enhances the team’s ability to address the diverse needs of the young people we serve.

“We want to meet youth where they are. If we can bring them in for something they want to do, like playing football or getting their driver license, it’s easier to build that relationship and find out what else they might need support with, like counselling or peer support. And on the other side, if they’re in counselling and feeling lonely, isolated, or unmotivated, it’s great to be able to directly get them involved in our programmes to do something fun, active, and to help them connect with others.” – Faith Barker, RAS Youth Team Leader.

RAS Youth's inclusive and collaborative methodology not only fosters a sense of ownership and relevance among the young people it serves but also amplifies the overall impact of the programmes. It is through this well-balanced and engaging approach, now complemented by clinical support, that the unique RAS Youth experience is created.

With a vision for all young people from refugee backgrounds to gain the confidence to be themselves, build respectful relationships, and contribute to an inclusive society where everyone is valued, RAS Youth provide services that empower young people to grow with dignity and self-determination. Their co-designed programmes enable young people to safely investigate challenging issues, including racism, sexism, and discrimination, in their everyday lives.

‘When I moved to Auckland I didn’t have any hope, and RAS helped me a lot. My father found out about RAS, and he told me about the holiday programme, and it was great because I met a lot of people. RAS also helped me with my homework and assessments, and I saw the counsellor once a week. They talked to my college and helped them to understand my situation. I can do anything because they gave me so much hope. People in RAS they don’t judge you, they just understand you.’ – RAS Youth participant

RAS Youth offer diverse services and programmes tailored to individual needs through wraparound support and a strengths-based approach. Young people are welcomed into RAS Youth through self-referral, referral by another service provider, or via the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre.

The variety of services available reflects young people's diverse needs and experiences. From engaging, pro-social activities such as sports teams and community and cultural events to leadership forums, annual youth retreats, and trauma-informed mental health and wellbeing counselling, RASNZ Youth programmes aim to bridge gaps in support for people with refugee backgrounds.

Over time, and in response to feedback from the young people they support, RAS Youth has refined its programmes to meet the varied needs and the changing environments young people face in resettlement.

Whether a high school student needs help with homework and obtaining their learner's driving licence or a young person requires more intensive support, the youth are met where they are and encouraged to access additional support if needed.

“As someone who has been through the refugee experience, I deeply understand the unique challenges our youth face as they navigate their new lives in New Zealand. My role is to not only guide and support them but also to show that ther past does not define their future, it can be a source of strength. When youth see leaders who have walked a similar path and succeeded, it builds trust and inspires them to believe in their own potential, knowing they too can overcome obstacles and thrive.”- Yamen Fares, Youth Programmes Facilitator

When a young person engages with a RAS Youth service or participates in a programme for the first time, the team engages in whakawhānaunga to connect, ask questions, and assess whether further opportunities for social engagement or wellbeing support might be beneficial.

“RAS Youth offers an open space where young people can express themselves authentically and build confidence in a supportive environment. With youth leaders from refugee backgrounds providing mentorship and dedicated resources, RAS Youth empowers these individuals to grow, develop resilience, and reach their full potential.” – Judy McMenigall, RAS Youth Team member.

To ensure their services extend beyond participation, RAS Youth strive to create pathways for individuals accessing their support to become Youth Leaders and work within the organisation. Another benefit of having youth leaders is that they bring their lived experiences to the kaupapa, fostering trust and understanding among young people. This approach keeps RAS Youth responsive and attuned to the diverse challenges adolescent refugee youth resettling in Tamaki Makaurau face.

Through their programmes and offerings, RAS Youth exemplify the care and consideration required to support young people from diverse backgrounds and experiences effectively. It provides a safe and understanding space for young people from refugee backgrounds to relax, be themselves, ask questions, and receive the support they need.