{"id":36,"date":"2025-09-04T10:32:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/n\/?page_id=36"},"modified":"2025-09-04T10:32:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:32:27","slug":"here-we-are","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/?page_id=36","title":{"rendered":"Here We Are"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Here We Are<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Patricia Ndachombonye<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Resourcer for trades and labour; Country of origin: Rwanda.<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cHome isn\u2019t a location, feeling, person or race. it\u2019s a way of being prospect of retrograde as a perspective of life, devotion to humanity while living with intention serving both as a negative and positive catalyst in the lives of those you cross the journey of life. Active intelligence and saying yes to seeing\/living life through other people\u2019s reality\/eyes could possibly be the only thing that makes us feel like we belong\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Clench Enoka <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Assistant at after-school program for youth; Country of origin: South Sudan.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cTransitioning to a new country is a difficult process. Having a caring and supporting friend can be the greatest gift. I am eternally grateful to have such amazing friends here. They have been around in my times of hardship. I will always be there for them as well\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Clench Enoka <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Assistant at after-school program for youth; Country of origin: South Sudan.<\/p>

\u201cBeing a mentor to such amazing kids in Lower Hutt is the best thing ever. Seeing them living and doing things to their full potential is incredible. My lovely co-workers make this job so enjoyable to work in\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Behrouz Boochani <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Author and the winner of the Victorian Prize for Literature; Country of origin: Iran. <\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cAll I remember from my childhood is an ongoing war. Flashing images of soldiers departing for the war front, jet fighters roaring in the sky and people fleeing villages. I know myself as a son of war and that is why I devoted myself to peace. Fighting for peace is my endless ongoing war\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Behrouz Boochani <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Author and the winner of the Victorian Prize for Literature; Country of origin: Iran. <\/strong><\/p>

\u201cI was born in a village where my journey has begun. Life threw me to a big city and from there, it took me to a remote island where I have been held in a detention centre for six years. Now I am sitting in a home in a country with two big islands. Wherever I have been, I left a part of myself. With me being everywhere, I don\u2019t know where I belong. Those shattered parts of me here and there were the cost that I paid to understand the meaning of my life. I belong to nowhere and everywhere\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Massoud Hossaini <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Human rights activist and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist; Country of origin: Afghanistan.<\/p>

\u201cI escaped Kabul after the Taliban terrorist group took over. Kabul\u2019s dramatic fall was a disaster for all Afghanistan\u2019s people who were trying to establish democracy, freedom, and justice in their war-torn state\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Massoud Hossaini <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Human rights activist and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist; Country of origin: Afghanistan.<\/p>

\u201cNow, I\u2019m in Wellington waiting to see what the future holds for me. I often sit outside of my room and check the news of my homeland where I belong to\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Fahima Yousofi <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Football player; Country of origin: Afghanistan.<\/p>

\u201cI used to play in the Afghanistan national football team. I now train with the Wellington Phoenix Academy team\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Margaret John Abee <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Caregiver at Elderslea Care Centre Village; Country of origin: South Sudan.<\/p>

\u201cI am holding police paper works in my hands. My son just came out from a coma. A few months ago, a gang member hit my son in the head multiple times using a baseball bat. Because we are black\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Margaret John Abee <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Caregiver at Elderslea Care Centre Village; Country of origin: South Sudan.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cI work at a hospital-level care area that is for people at highest dependency. This is my friend Eila. We have been friends since 2010\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Karam Shaar <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Research Director and Independent Consultant – Political Economy; Country of origin: Syria.<\/p>

\u201cDespite having fled Syria ten years ago, I still wake up in the middle of the night to operate on that time zone. Living as far as it can get from my first home does not mean I cannot try to improve the lives of people still living there. That doesn\u2019t make me less of a Kiwi, either. I’m lucky to have two countries I can wholeheartedly call home\u2014one in the Middle East and the other in Middle Earth\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Karam Shaar <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Caregiver at Elderslea Care Centre Village; Country of origin: South Sudan.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cI work at a hospital-level care area that is for people at highest dependency. This is my friend Eila. We have been friends since 2010\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Nureddin Abdurahman <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Chair of the African Community Council based in Newtown; Country of origin: Ethiopia.<\/p>

\u201cI came to New Zealand in 2008 from Ethiopia to join my wife, who arrived here as a refugee. Together we have built a family here in Wellington. My wife and I do community work. We run a small business using our international connections that gives migrant communities a taste of their homeland\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Nureddin Abdurahman <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Chair of the African Community Council based in Newtown; Country of origin: Ethiopia.<\/p>

\u201cIn my free time, I play football and do house works\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Yanet Beshah <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Nail technician at a beauty salon in Wellington; Country of origin: Ethiopia.<\/p>

\u201cI was a fashion model and studied fashion design in Ethiopia. Now I work as a nail technician at a beauty salon in Wellington. Before that, I worked in Cambridge city where my daughter used to go to school. One day, her teacher asked my daughter to tell others how poor she was before coming to New Zealand; A traumatic experience for my daughter that made her feel embarrassed in front of other students\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Yanet Beshah <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Nail technician at a beauty salon in Wellington; Country of origin: Ethiopia.<\/p>

\u201cI need to try my best to make her believe that she is not different. We have each other. She comes to my workplace after school and does reading and sketching until I finish the work. To help her regain self-confidence, I am trying to be the mother that she deserves, a role model. One day, I will become a fashion designer which I love and have a qualification in\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Oo Meh Nga<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Registered Nurse; Country of origin: Kayah State, Myanmar.<\/p>

\u201cI had always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Aotearoa made my dream come true. My family and I were well looked after by the people of Aotearoa with their kindness and hospitality. Now it is my turn to give back that kindness\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Oo Meh Nga<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Registered Nurse; Country of origin: Kayah State, Myanmar.<\/p>

\u201cI had always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Aotearoa made my dream come true. My family and I were well looked after by the people of Aotearoa with their kindness and hospitality. Now it is my turn to give back that kindness\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Oo Meh Nga <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Registered Nurse; Country of origin: Kayah State, Myanmar.<\/p>

\u201cThis is my son, Khu-Twar. He is my world. He makes me smile even when I am down. He loves listening and dancing to our traditional music. Living in Aotearoa will pave more opportunities for him\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Sounvilay Phonevilay <\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Packer at Whittaker’s Chocolate Factory; Country of origin: Laos.<\/p>

\u201cI came over with my husband, my sister and two toddlers in 1985. We fled Laos on a boat away from the eyes of the guard soldiers. I am proud of working for the world’s finest chocolate manufacturer; A made-in-Aotearoa industry here in Porirua. I have worked there for more than 30 years and I don\u2019t see moving to a new job anytime soon\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Sounvilay Phonevilay (left)<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>

Packer at Whittaker’s Chocolate Factory);<\/p>

Soulivone Phonevilay (right)<\/strong><\/h2>

Senior Advisor, Government Services, Ministry of Health); Country of origin: Laos<\/p>

\u201cMy mum and I share a love for cooking. This is our happy place; the converted garage and the second kitchen which is the heart of our home in Wellington. Here, traditional Laotian food is made from scratch; proving that \u201cYou can take the person out of the place (Laos), but you can’t take the place (Laos) out of the person\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Soulivone Phonevila <\/strong><\/h2>

Senior Advisor, Government Services, Ministry of Health; Country of origin: Laos.<\/p>

\u201cI fled with my family from Laos when I was three. I received my Master’s Degree when I was forty. Now, I work as a Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Health. I speak Laos fluently and I volunteer teaching Laotian dance. I am also honoured to be the President of the Porirua Multicultural Council. If you want to know what has been my most rewarding role to-date, I would say being a mother! As a mother, I show my daughter that women can achieve anything they think of!\u201d.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Patricia Ndachombonye Resourcer for trades and labour; Country of origin: Rwanda. \u00a0\u201cHome isn\u2019t a location, feeling, person or race. it\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":24,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-36","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ehsanhazaveh.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}