It’s about the journey, not the destination

At Safari we have a naming crisis.  Is the term ‘playgroup’ misleading?  While we are most definitely a playgroup, we are also a community hub for migrant and refugee women offering English classes, van transport, support with driver licensing, employment, health and further education.  We are a place to make friends, learn something new, and feel more connected with the place you are living.  That’s a lot of things to convey in one simple name! 

The original founders of the programme chose the name Safari – meaning journey in Swahili – to embody the journey and its many meanings: the migration journey, the refugee journey, the parenting journey, the learning journey, the education journey and the employment journey. And as the saying goes...life is about the journey, not the destination. 

Hala Abakar is a great example of this. She is one of the many women who has come into the orbit of a Safari Playgroup and gained in unexpected ways.  

Hailing originally from Sudan, Hala and her husband relocated to the Queensland town of MacKay in 2008 and spent eight years there before returning to their homeland in 2015. Both in Australia and Sudan Hala worked and studied Early Childhood Education until 2023, when the family found they had to leave Sudan suddenly as the effects of the war there made it too dangerous to stay.  The family was evacuated to New Zealand.  

Starting again in a new country was not easy. On a visit to St Vincent de Paul’s budgeting service in Ōtāhuhu in 2024, Hala mentioned she was interested in getting work experience in ECE.  This led to a referral to Safari South Multicultural Playgroup, also in Ōtāhuhu. Over 2025, Hala became one of the most regular volunteers, using her ECE skills to give back to the community here in her new home.  This was able to expand to casual paid work when she covered for another staff member who took extended leave for a term. Her regular calming and caring presence have made her popular with the kids.

However, despite her years raising children and working in Australia, Hala still felt a lack of confidence when it came to speaking English. In late 2025, Catherine McKinlay from English Language Partners in Manukau visited Safari South in Ōtāhuhu and was able to enroll several of the women including Hala in a twice-weekly English online class. Online English classes such as these are invaluable for many migrant and refugee women who cannot join in any other way due to lack of transport or childcare. English Language Partners also rents out tablet devices to students studying with their online classes for a $10 bond, making it easier for students without a device to participate in their classes.  

“I would like help with English grammar and confidence,” said Hala about her hopes for this English class. “When I am talking, I am not really confident to speak.” 

Charlotte Gordon

Hala began volunteering with the hope that this might lead to paid work here in New Zealand. This week this plan was finally realised when she began working in a paid capacity at Safari East in Panmure, where she will be working three mornings a week. Like so many others, Hala’s journey is ongoing, and Safari is just one stop on the road.  

“Safari has taught me about engaging with many different cultures. I’ve learned a lot.” - Hala