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Saying goodbye to WISE

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Message from CEO: Saying goodbye to WISE  

  

Kia ora koutou, 

  

As we say bye to 2021, with a heavy heart we also say goodbye to our beloved project, The WISE Collective.  

For over seven years, The WISE Collective has been a place for our women from former refugee and migrant backgrounds to gather, connect and learn together. Alongside our community we’ve been able to deliver a range of activities, services and support that has empowered and positively impacted the lives of women across Aotearoa. 

We have seen from this project, the development of not only our women who have gained opportunities that have improved wellbeing, social networks, employment and enterprise, but also the development of other initiatives such as WISE Catering, our Catering Start-Up Course and Kahika. Thank-you to all our supporters and funders that have helped us achieve this.   

Thank-you especially to the women who have gifted us the privilege of being able to hear your stories, aspirations and support a small part of your journey in Aotearoa. Together, we have shared highs and lows, laughing and crying together, celebrating your achievements and milestones in the project. Thank you so much.   

Despite the positive role the WISE project has had, accessing funding to support the coordination of the project has consistently been a challenge. As such, in 2022 we will no longer be running our WISE Collective project.  

We do recognise that there is still a need and have identified other initiatives that provide similar offerings and benefits, which we will be referring our communities to. Please see some useful links below:  

 

 

  • Employment Guide to help people from migrant and refugee backgrounds find programmes to help them get the job they’re looking for: www.belong.org.nz/employment-guide  

 

 

So although we are saying bye to the WISE Collective project, this is not the end of our work supporting women from migrant and former refugee backgrounds. We recognise the unique needs of diverse multicultural women to come together. We are dedicated to empowering and creating opportunities for transformative change for ethnic women and have some exciting work in progress.  

In 2022, we’re planning a pilot programme for ethnic women living in Henderson-Massey; further developing WISE Catering; and undertaking evaluation work together with WISE women (recent and past) living in Mt Roskill, to inform future opportunities for positive change. We look forward to sharing more details with you in the New Year so watch this space! 

From all of us here at Belong Aotearoa, thank you to everyone who has been a part of the WISE Collective Project journey. 

  

Ngā mihi mahana, 

  

Rochana Sheward 

Chief Executive Officer, Belong Aotearoa