As law students, we are privileged to be given the skills and opportunities to help people who may not have the means to help themselves. I feel that being part of WCJP was a great way to give back to the community that has given me so many opportunities. Hear from Brianna below:
This is my first year volunteering with the Wellington Community Justice Project (WCJP). I am a member of the media team of ASEP, part of the Human Rights branch of WCJP. It is a great way to get involved in the community, meet more like-minded people, and hopefully make a difference in our society. Our role as ASEP is to create awareness about the disparity of treatment between Convention and Quota Refugees in New Zealand. Many people are not aware of these categories (I must admit that before becoming involved in this I was not completely sure of the difference) and this results in a bulk labelling as "refugees". Under the 1951 Refugee convention, all people have a right to claim and enjoy asylum in our country. However, these two groups are given markedly different access to support and resources once in New Zealand.
0 Comments
As part of the project's commitment to recognise the work of our volunteers, whose dedication is relied upon, each team leader has been asked to nominate one outstanding volunteer for 2016. These volunteers will be showcased over the next four weeks.
WCJP provides a clear opportunity for law students volunteer in their community. Whether you spend a few hours or a few months volunteering, I think that the experience of applying your studies and navigating the real world is really valuable. The greatest benefit about WCJP is the relationships formed through their projects, which are totally focused on integrating our law school community with that of the Wellington area. Hear from Sorina below:
Originally from Auckland, my new home is in the Law Library at Vic. Currently I’m in my third year of a Law and Commerce degree, majoring in Management. I chose to study law because my mum wanted me to study medicine. But seriously, I’ve always wanted to help others and I thought a law degree would give me the skillset to do this. Law school is quite a big place even after first year, so I saw this as a great opportunity to meet like-minded people. The biggest reason I wanted to volunteer for WCJP to meet new people. After reading about the projects chosen by the Human Rights team, I was really keen to try for this team as I thought the projects were really interesting. I wanted to try something new and a connection with the community is something I hadn’t really given much time for over the past couple of years. As part of the project's commitment to recognise the work of our volunteers, whose dedication is relied upon, each team leader has been asked to nominate one outstanding volunteer for 2016. These volunteers will be showcased over the next four weeks.
I am sometimes struck by a frustration that I can’t do more in the circumstances, as well as a certain guilt that afterwards I can so easily go back to my normal life. But this is why I think volunteering is so important. While one person can’t change the world by themselves, we can make it better if we each make an effort to contribute in our own way, big or small. Hear from Raphael below:
This is my second year volunteering with the Human Rights team of the Community Justice Project. The experience has been sombering, taxing and logistically difficult at times, but ultimately one of most worthwhile things I’ve done while at law school. The letter writing campaign involves meeting with the families of refugees who have fled their home country and are now living in a second, often more dangerous country, which do not provide them with legal status or protection. Our work involves writing letters on their behalf to the UNHCR or Immigration New Zealand, advocating for why they should be approved for resettlement.
“We have started a campaign for Asylum Seeker’s rights. It is a human right to seek asylum’ yet many Asylum Seekers who come to New Zealand are hindered from living this right in a full and meaningful way. Some are having negative resettlement experiences because they are distinguished from ‘Quota Refugees’ and therefore are barred from the services and support available for Quota Refugees (‘Marking Time’ Report 2013). Many Asylum Seekers are fleeing the same wars, the same persecution and the same destruction as Quota Refugees. We believe Asylum Seekers should receive the same access to services and support as Quota Refugees. Our team of eight volunteers have been busy planning and organising the campaign. They have split into two groups, one is community focused to raise awareness and support, and the other is government focused by creating our policy statement, petition and lobbying MPs. A campaign launch is scheduled in August to launch our petition and have a speaker panel discuss the issues Asylum Seekers in New Zealand face and possible solutions. Tayyaba Khan, CEO of ChangeMakers Refugee Forum and Murdoch Stephens, founder of the Double the Quota campaign are confirmed speakers on the panel. We’re in touch with a number of MPs and are looking to have a former Asylum Seeker also join the panel. The event will be held in the Law School common room, is registered as a VicPlus category A event and is also open to the public so we are expecting a great turnout! Prior to the launch a Facebook Page will go live outlining the campaign, posting articles, photo stories and interviews with former Asylum Seekers living in Wellington. Content will be geared towards debunking the stigmas and xenophobic politics/media about Asylum Seekers and will be based upon data retrieved from a volunteer-conducted survey.” The Asylum Seeker Equality Project team is made up of Mahala Pinchen, Lucy Kenner, Sorina Muresan, Tamara Jenkin, Alice Onland, Keelin Weekly, Katherine Kooistra, and Maria Reyes Malqui. |
About this Feed:The Wellington Community Justice Project News Feed is maintained by our Secretary, Olivia Hyland. Categories
All
Archives
October 2017
|
© Wellington Justice Community Project Incorporated 2020