Ethnic Advisory Group

Pamela Joseph
Hutt, from Malaysia

I have worked with a number of Waikato settlement agencies - Waikato Refugee Forum; Hamilton Ethnic Women's Centre Trust and Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust. My involvement with English Language Partners began in 2008 as a bilingual assistant at Waikato. In 2008, I joined the EAG. I am also involved with settlement NGOs and community groups, including the Waikato Somali Friendship Society, Refugee Services and Hamilton Ethnic Women's Centre Trust.

English Language Partners plays an important role in the resettlement of refugees and migrants. The EAG gives learner communities a voice within the organisation on a national strategic partnership level. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be part of this great organisation.

I am from Malaysia, but have also lived in Singapore for 10 years, working in the software development area. Since arriving here in 2000, I have obtained my bachelors in information technology and am working as a Software Test Analyst.

I am involved with the Hutt centre as home tutor and committee member. As a tutor, I am involved first-hand in the difficulties and experiences of my learner, while my work on the committee allows me to have a much wider view. English Language Partners provides a vital service in helping migrants and refugees to integrate and thrive in their new communities, and I hope that my contribution through the Ethnic Advisory Group will further enhance and improve this service.

As a migrant with no prior English language ability, I have personal experience of the many and varied difficulties that are experienced in the daily lives of those without English language skills in New Zealand.

I am delighted therefore to have been given the opportunity to be involved in the work of the English Language Partners. Since 2007 I have been Treasurer for the National office and Board member, and in 2010 was appointed by the Board as a co-opted member to the Ethnic Advisory Group.

I am convinced from my own background, as well as from my involvement with ELP that the organisation plays the vital role in the resettlement of refugees and migrants, and am pleased to have the opportunity to provide a formal link between the Board and the EAG. I look forward to continuing to make a positive contribution to both the Board and the EAG in the future.

Dr Zuhair Hakkak
Auckland South, from Iraq

Gurbrinder Aulakh
North Shore, from India (Punjabi)

Lwin Lwin Tue
Nelson, from Burma

I was Professor of Genetics at Baghdad University for 25 years. In 1996 I migrated to New Zealand with my wife and two teenage sons.

I have been president of the Arab New Zealand Cultural Society since 2002. Their goal is to promote and integrate Arabic culture within the numerous cultures of New Zealand.

I joined English Language Partners as an ESOL home tutor in 2003, and have since helped 13 students from various ethnic backgrounds.

From my 25 years teaching adults at university, and eight years teaching English through English Language Partners' programmes, I feel I have the experience to participate positively in the successful progress of English Language Partners New Zealand.

I was a lawyer in India and migrated to NZ about nine years back. I have been a tutor, committee member and am currently the chairperson of the North Shore Centre.

Having gone through the struggle of settling down in a new country, I can relate to the problems that we face in the process. Language barriers and getting a job being the biggest challenges. I hope to contribute through my personal experience and to assist in the development of the organisation towards its goals of effective resettlement of migrants and refugees.

I completed a Bachelor of Commerce in Burma and worked as a secondary school maths teacher. I came to New Zealand in 1997 to join my husband who was a political refugee.

I completed a Diploma in Business (2003) and have been working as an accountant. In 2007 I decided to go back to study for a New Zealand Bachelor of Commerce degree. I studied part-time whilst working.

I have recently completed my degree, majoring in accounting, and am working towards becoming an associate chartered accountant.

I was asked to be both a committee member and to be treasurer for the Nelson centre in 2009. English Language Partners has played an important role all through my years of study. They provided me with a big opportunity and have opened many doors for many migrant and refugees. I am so grateful to be involved.

I am delighted to be involved with the EAG, so I have the opportunity to help others.

Lily Hao
Auckland South, from China

Maria Cristina Rodriguez (Maki)Waikato,from Colombia

I was an English teacher at secondary schools in China for 11 years. In 2003, I came to New Zealand for further study. I have a Masters in Education from Waikato University and a CELTA certificate (UNITEC). In 2008, I started to work as coordinator at Auckland South.

I am a people's person. I enjoy communicating with people from various backgrounds. I feel great when I see our learners make progress in their English and settle down well in this beautiful country.

It is my honor that I've become an EAG memeber. I value this opportunity of being involved at the national level. I hope I will make a contribution to our group.

My name is Maria Cristina, but everybody calls me Maki. I am from Colombia, and 13 years ago I decided to leave my country looking for new opportunities and experiences. I lived with my family in Costa Rica for nine years and then I moved to New Zealand almost four years ago.

Now I have the opportunity to work with Refugee Services as a Cross Cultural Worker. I feel happy and satisfied because I can do something to help my people adapt to this new country and culture when they arrive. I am also a Spanish tutor, in an academy that I started with my sister in May this year.

As a migrant I understand the difficulties and limitations that people have from countries where English is not the official language. I know that communication is the most important issue in the lives of human beings. For this reason I value greatly the work of Language English Partners, in assisting people to achieve their desired level of English.

Fahima Haidari
Wellington, from Afghanistan
(text pending)