Christchurch advocate for refugee families an award finalist
After spending her childhood in a Kurdish refugee camp, Dr Zhiyan Basharati arrived in New Zealand with her family at age 11, not speaking a word of English. Now, this UC graduate has a PhD in forensic psychology, is a dedicated advocate for refugees and migrants, and award finalist.
Dr Zhiyan Basharati is a finalist for the University of Canterbury Young New Zealander of the Year, in recognition of her work in amplifying refugee voices and perspectives.
When she heard local mosques had been attacked, she quickly introduced herself to hospital staff as a local community worker and began organising translators who spoke Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Somali or Kurdish to help victims and their family members.
“It was pretty emotional. I started to call family and friends to see if they were ok. People were in shock, but because of what I’ve experienced in my life I was functioning and I knew what to do. I was aware of all the community groups and services and how to connect people with them.”
She didn’t get home until 5am the next morning. That immediate help developed into an ongoing role co-ordinating the welfare centre set up at Hagley College and then setting up and becoming the Operations Manager for the Christchurch Victims Organising Committee (CVOC) to provide information and help to survivors and their families.
In recognition of these efforts and her other community work and advocacy for refugees and migrants, Dr Basharati has been named as one of three finalists in the University of Canterbury (UC) Young New Zealander of the Year – Te Mātātahi o te Tau – for 2021.