Multicultural Motueka Update

Our activities in Motueka have expanded as awareness of our Community Coordinator Sez grows. Sez, who is based at Community House for two mornings each week, has been welcoming more walk-ins seeking help with various issues, including employment, ESOL support, and opportunities for social connections.

The "Migration Stories" event continues to be a highlight in Motueka, often supported by Te Noninga Kumu - the Motueka Public Library. This event offers a valuable platform for individuals to share their migration experiences, whether recent or from the past. To date, we have hosted five of these events along with several Multicultural Pot Luck dinners. Additionally, we’ve launched a Saturday morning Conversational English class that has seen strong attendance and successfully paired several students with volunteer tutors. These classes are designed to assist those ineligible for other funded ESOL services due to their immigration or work status.  A big thank you to our dedicated volunteers: Susan, Renee, Gerry, Mags, and Lyn.

Alcohol Harm Reduction Videos in Five Languages

We are excited to introduce a series of educational videos addressing the risks of alcohol consumption, specifically designed for our refugee and migrant communities.  A collaborative project by the Victory Community Centre’s Alcohol & Other Drug Clinician and Community Navigator for Former Refugees and Migrants, along with Multicultural Nelson Tasman, these three 1-2 minute videos are available in Chin Hakka, Burmese, Karenni, Nepali, Spanish, and English. They offer crucial information in a supportive and non-judgmental manner, highlighting the physical, mental, and social impacts of alcohol abuse and providing guidance on where to seek help.

Alcohol abuse can significantly affect individuals and families, especially within our refugee and migrant populations. By offering this information, we aim to foster a healthier and more supportive community.

Please help us by sharing these videos within your networks. We appreciate your support and thank Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora for funding this project.  You can find sll the videos here.

Introducing our newest MNT Board Members

Upcoming MNT Events 

Shared Communities Update

After a successful first stage funded by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, we’re thrilled to announce that additional funding has been secured from the Department of Internal Affairs to continue the Cultural Navigator role until January 2025. Over the past year, we’ve supported 48 diverse, community-led projects across various cultural domains, empowering members to build confidence, take responsibility, and enhance their decision-making skills. This support has extended to assisting with external grant applications, leading to significant projects such as Language Schools, Football Kura, and the import of traditional instruments from Colombia for the creation of an Afro-Colombian Dance and Music Academy (via the Ministry for Ethnic Communities) 

In the coming year, our focus will shift to further assisting our migrant and former refugee communities in submitting external grant applications, facilitating connections with existing opportunities for art, culture, and heritage activities in the region, and continuing our commitment to capability building within these communities.

Cultural Navigator, Karolina Serrano, will keep you updated on upcoming festivals, events, and funding opportunities. If you have not connected with her yet and would like support for your project/event, want to join the Shared Communities mailing list to keep updated, or become part of the Shared Communities Advisory group, please reach out to Karolina at culturalnavigator@sharedcommunities.org.nz.

Shared Communities is a collaborative project between Nelson City Council, Make/Shift Spaces, Nelson Arts Council, and Multicultural Nelson Tasman. 

 

Your participation within our organisation makes the difference! Whatever your age or lifestyle, ethnic background or individual living situation, you can help to make the world a better place and influence the course of society. Your membership, collaboration, insights and/or kind donation will enable us to continue doing our vital work. Only a strong organisation that acts as the voice of many is capable of achieving our common goal! And only through increased funding, we will have the capacity to make this voice heard.


 

You can support us by becoming a member or simply giving a contribution towards our cause.



Are you an organisation or do you own a local business? You can support us by donating here:

Naku te rourou nau te rourou ka ora ai te iwi - 

With your basket and my basket the people will live!