An opportunity to support refugee resettlement.
Sponsored refugees are supported by community groups to quickly become independent and self-sufficient in their new lives in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Why sponsor a refugee?
There are more refugees in the world than there are resettlement places.
Every little bit helps and you can help make life better for a family in desperate need of protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have compiled a list of commonly asked questions about the Community Refugee Sponsorship programme.
Around the globe
New Zealand is one of a few number of countries who have joined the Community Refugee Sponsorship pathway.
Find information and resources about the programme from around the globe.
This is why we need sponsors...
WHY REFUGEE
SPONSORSHIP.
Being forced to flee
“There’s a tremendous desire from people around the world to respond to this crisis. The Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative creates opportunities for citizens to engage with and participate in a humanitarian effort—for the benefit of refugees and for the benefit of the communities that they live in.”
Gregory A. Maniatis, Director, International Migration Initiative, Open Society Foundations
From: Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative
Imagine being forced to flee your country in order to escape to safety. If you were lucky you had time to pack a bag. If not, you simply dropped everything and ran.
Refugees are people fleeing conflict or persecution. They are defined and protected in international law, and must not be expelled or returned to situations where their life and freedom are at risk.
Life as a refugee can be difficult to imagine. But, for 26.4 million people around the world, it is a terrifying reality.
Resettlement is a lifeline for refugees who cannot return home or settle in the country where they have sought initial safety.
In 2018, only 92,400 refugees were resettled, less than 7% of the refugees UNHCR identified as in need of urgent resettlement and less than 1% of all refugees.
For further information read about UNHCR's Global Resettlement Needs 2022.
Source: UNHCR
101mill
Displaced
People
Worldwide
26mill
Refugees
waiting for
resettlement
100k
Resettlement
places
globally
50%
Refugees
under the
age of 18
The Community Refugee Sponsorship programme enables all New Zealanders to welcome refugees to Aotearoa.
The programme supports groups to directly engage in refugee resettlement by committing to providing financial, emotional and practical support to help newly-arrived refugees integrate into life in Aotearoa New Zealand.
