Standing United with the children of South Sudan

Over 90,000 young Kiwis around the country took up this year's 40 Hour Famine fundraising challenge to show their support for the children of South Sudan.
Hundreds of you then took your support one step further by advocating for change to New Zealand's refugee policies.

Thank you for using your voice!

Thank you for using your voice!
World Vision Youth Advocates, Clench, Tessa and Cole, delivered your letters on New Zealand's refugee policies, directly to Parliament asking the Minister of Immigration, Iain Lees-Galloway to make it easier for refugees from Africa and the Middle East to find protection in New Zealand as soon as possible. 

The Minister received your letters, expressed gratefulness for our advocacy and acknowledged it is an important issue to discuss. He confirmed he wants to use New Zealand’s quota to help those who need it most, and that he is currently talking to Immigration NZ to see what can be done.

At this stage, he has other immigration issues that are more urgent for him to address. He was sympathetic to our calls, encouraged us to continue to shine a light on this issue and lobby other key Ministers and MPs, especially from the NZ First and Green parties in the lead up to the next formal review of New Zealand’s refugee quota (June 2019).

Delivering your voices to the Minister was only the first step to creating change. We need to continue to speak up to help making New Zealand’s refugee quota fair for all!

Why we are advocating for change

Why we are advocating for change
South Sudan is the most fragile state in the world. Millions of people have fled for their lives due to violent conflict.

New Zealand's government policies have made it almost impossible for people fleeing Africa and the Middle East to start a new life here. Restrictions like needing family members already living in New Zealand have meant that since 2011, only 12 refugees from South Sudan have been allowed to resettle here.

Kids like Victor and his brothers who fled South Sudan to escape conflict could never find protection in New Zealand.

New Zealand must share more responsibility for refugees from South Sudan.

Meet Clench

Clench is a proud Kiwi and former refugee from South Sudan. In 2003 her family resettled here in New Zealand to start a new life. If this policy had been in place then, her family would never had been able to come to New Zealand and live a life of freedom and opportunity. Listen to Clench's letter to the Minister of Immigration below.