Unsung Heroes: Mum, sister and friend to refugees in need

Yvonne Ennion with Elie Bumba, 12, one of the many new Kiwis she has helped over the years. Photo / Christine Cornege

Yvonne Ennion has been helping resettle refugees in Hamilton for over 20 years. She has been a volunteer among the Somali, Congolese, Afghan and Djibouti communities, helping mainly women integrate into their new society and improve their command of English.

Miss Ennion is not sure how her interest in such groups evolved.

"I think I've always had an affinity for people from other cultures, and how we can learn from them. They have as much to offer us as we have to offer them, with a depth of knowledge that has come from adversity."

The immigrant families are always made welcome at the Ennion family farm at Horsham Downs, just north of Hamilton, where Miss Ennion lives with her sister Margaret, because assisting refugees is a family affair.

When Yvonne Ennion's mother died in January, an Afghan woman living in Hamilton arrived at Miss Ennion's doorstep with a plate of food. When Miss Ennion asked why, the woman replied: "But Yvonne, she was my mother too."

Miss Ennion was nominated for the Herald's Unsung Heroes series by her friend Barbara Redfern, who has great respect for the work she does. The series recognises the work people do in their communities, and five nominees will be chosen to go on a P&O cruise.

Miss Ennion has also helped organise holiday camps and holiday programmes in Coromandel, Raglan and Waihi for refugee children, as a fun and challenging way for the youngsters to learn about their new home.

Currently Miss Ennion is the volunteer support person for Congolese grandmother Henriette Ekuchu and her grandson Elie. Miss Ennion takes Mrs Ekuchu shopping each week, and ferries her to hospital appointments. Elie, now in his first year at Fairfield College, has been a protege of Miss Ennion's since he was 7, and is treated as one of the family.

As part of the integration process, Miss Ennion encourages children to be active and take up a sport. Her own interest, as a player in the Waikato masters badminton league, reveals itself at odd times.

"When Elie went for his school interview, he was asked if he liked to play soccer, like other boys from his country," said Miss Ennion. "'No,' he replied, 'I like tennis and badminton'."

Miss Ennion also runs a community integration class for Somali, Djibouti, Afghan, Congolese and Tongan women, where they have the chance to talk together and learn from their different experiences.

She also co-ordinates a sewing circle for women who want to learn the skill, although she needs help from sister Margaret for this.

"My sewing skills aren't all that good," she says. "I'm better at finding new recruits for the classes."

It seems refugees settling in Hamilton are in good hands.