Colombian refugees settle into Invercargill, leaving a life of violence
Monday, 23 September 2019
Colombian refugee Carlos Cano Ciro loves the peace he has found in Invercargill.
A dance teacher in Medellin for more than 20 years, he now works in the construction industry in Southland.
Ciro taught break dancing to a Government programme that helped young people get out of a life of violence.
He was threatened a couple of times by the AUC group [United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia] and was then given 24 hours to leave.
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He is now one of nearly 150 Colombian refugees to settle in Invercargill in the past 19 months, with 16 gaining full-time employment and six having part-time work.
Moving to New Zealand meant Ciro left his parents, two younger siblings and his two children behind.
'That's been the hardest thing.'
Life in Invercargill is different, he says.
'Colombia is bigger. In my home country I had family, bunch of friends.'
But the way of life is different, he says.
'In Colombia you have to pay the armed group to take care of your car. If you don't pay them they steal the car, same with businesses, houses.
'They knock on your door and ask for money.'
His new Kiwi way of life is easier. He feels well treated at his new workplace.
'The boss here is friendly. [In Colombia] you're the slave.'
While it was a struggle at first to settle in the south, he now 'loves the peace'.
Red Cross staff gave an update to the Invercargill City councillors in September about how the Colombians are coping in the deep south.
Colombian refugees in many cases flee through Ecuador and apply for refugee status.
When given the green light to come to New Zealand, the refugees were located in Mangere, Auckland, for six weeks orientation before arriving in Southland.
The Colombian women, in particular, want part-time work but are finding it hard to come by.
Some of the families have endured up to a decade of 'far from positive experiences', where they have to line up for everything, be told what to do and where to go, and live without basic freedoms.
So when given keys to their homes in Invercargill it was a transformation, with tears often shed, councillors were told.
Most of the former refugees attend English language classes in the first year of settlement as language is the biggest barrier in gaining employment.
New Zealand's quota was was 1000 a year and Invercargill received 90 a year.
In total, the Red Cross team had so far settled 146 former Colombian refugees in Invercargill, comprising of 38 families - 69 aged under 18.
About four families arrived in Invercargill every eight weeks and are supported by the Red Cross resettlement team and trained volunteers.
More than 100 volunteers are working with the 38 families but finding volunteers is tough.
Most of the refugees are given a bike to ride around on.
Red Cross is always looking for bedding, pots, pans and school gear for the kids.
Though there is enough housing for the Colombians in Invercargill, the challenge is to find them good housing, councillors were told.
Businesses to give the former refugees work in the south include HWR companies, Yunca, Stabi Craft, rest homes and cafes.
Immigration New Zealand decided which nationality arrived in Southland, with Colombians chosen mainly because of a percentage being from the agriculture sector.
Many Southland farmers have offered to hire the Colombians but Red Cross says they first need to learn the English language, get a New Zealand driver's license and learn about the culture before settling into isolated communities.
The Colombians to arrive in Southland have a cross section of skills, ranging from farm workers to chefs, IT employees to a professional cyclist and accountant.
On the sporting front, the Invercargill football teams appreciated their arrival, and on the religious front, the Colombians attend several churches and have started a new Spanish speaking church for themselves.