A Lynfield playgroup for children of refugees is also proving to be a stepping stone for
mums. Rebecca Blithe finds out how.
Tiny hands squish yellow play dough. Little feet patter out to the sandpit past pinned-up and paint-splattered newsprint flapping in the breeze. The scene suggests a normal playgroup, just like many others across Auckland. But the children and mothers who attend the Multicultural Safari Playgroup have come from far-from-normal circumstances.
Sandananayagy Marusalin and her 2-year-old daughter, Thamilini Pathmanathan, are Tamil people from Sri Lanka.
Mrs Marusalin arrived in New Zealand from her war-torn homeland six years ago. She came to join her fiance, who had fled as a refugee three years earlier.
"My husband was shot," says Mrs Marusalin. "Here, here and here," she explains by touching her temple, her throat and her leg. Although she appears unperturbed by the harrowing incident - perhaps because he survived - her eyes well with tears as she tells of the less fortunate fate of her family back home. "My family's all lost," she says softly.
"My country has so many problems. But here we have a new life, you know, here is a good country. My whole life has been helped by the New Zealand Government," she says, as her daughter approaches with a puzzle and puts it in her lap.
Mrs Marusalin helps her dislodge a piece and asks her what it is. "A rabbit," comes the enthusiastic reply, and then again the word in Tamil.
"Everything she's learned she's learned here," says her mother, beaming. Since joining the playgroup, established especially for refugee families and recently shifted to a purpose-built centre in Lynfield, she says Thamilini has improved her English and made new friends.
"It's the beginning to learn. She's talking with my language and she wants to learn English. She picks up new words and new friends. Before, she would never talk to other people, just mum and dad."
Robyn Langford, the early childhood project coordinator for Auckland Regional Migrant Services, is responsible for running the playgroup, organising funding and helping parents take up opportunities that coincide with the playgroup.
Mrs Langford says statistics show that refugee parents are less likely than others to take their children to early childhood education, so it's important to establish a place for them.
"This involves more than just a playgroup," she says.
"There's English classes for parents and we help provide skills for parents to learn by having them become part of the playgroup management team, so they could be secretary or help in the finances. Besides being for the kids, it's a stepping stone for mums."
Mrs Langford says one of the mothers is looking into training as an early childhood teacher after helping as a volunteer.
Auckland Regional Migrant Services' executive director Mary Dawson, says the playgroup has arisen from a community-driven project and partnership between the Auckland Refugee Community Coalition and the Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Trust.
Let the children play
The Multicultural Safari Playgroup is based at Lynfield Recreation and Youth Centre.
It is looking for a new volunteer, trained as a teacher of English for speakers of
other languages. Call Robyn Langford on 625 3186.
Home away from home
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