It is with sadness that we remember the passing, in December 2023, of Cardinal Tom Williams. Cardinal Tom was one of our founding Patrons, and we will miss his kindness, support and encouragement. Thomas Williams was ordained a priest in Rome in 1959 and served in Palmerston North, Samoa and Porirua East parishes. He was … Continue reading Cardinal Tom Williams
On World Refugee Day 2019 the Refugee Family Reunification Trust reached a milestone well worth celebrating when total donations reached two million dollars. Kate O’Malley, Senior Policy Advisor at UNHCR in Canberra, gifted the Trust the symbolic ‘two millionth dollar’. Since 2001 the Trust’s generous supporters have helped reunite over 280 refugee families, including paying for … Continue reading Two Million Dollars for Refugees
Read the article on The Spinoff, ‘How do you settle when your loved ones are in danger?’.
On 10 September 2015 around 3,000 people attended a candlelight vigil outside Parliament in support of welcoming more refugees to New Zealand. They generously donated $2,259 to the Refugee Family Reunification Trust. The vigil was organised by Amnesty International, Action Station and Doing Our Bit, and was a wonderful expression of support for refugees. We … Continue reading Candlelight Vigil at Parliament
One sunny Friday afternoon in August, on the panoramic 24th floor of HSBC Tower on Lambton Quay, four refugee children happily biked around the Simpson Grierson boardroom on their new BMX bikes. For a deaf 9 year old Syrian boy, twin 7 year old girls from Ethiopia and a 10 year old Colombian boy, it … Continue reading Major Law Firm’s Gift to Refugee Children
Wellington-based charity, the Refugee Family Reunification Trust, has now raised over one million dollars since its inception in 2001. The milestone was officially reached this week, thanks to a symbolic donation made by the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR. Richard Towle, Regional Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, made the donation this … Continue reading United Nations donation marks million dollar milestone for Wellington charity
Sincere thanks to Elite International School of Beauty and Spa Therapies, located at Level 2, 265 Wakefield St (by New World, Chaffers St), which kindly chose the Trust to receive proceeds from its 2012 student client sessions. In December 2012 a cheque for $12,352.06 was presented to the Trust – so please support them for … Continue reading Elite Beauty Treatments: Do Us A Favour – Treat Yourself!
The Refugee Family Reunification Trust was recently featured on the National Program’s Nine to Noon radio show: “Amanda Calder is a former lawyer and chair of Refugee Family Reunification Trust – she received the QSM in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. Ranka Margetic-Sosa, orginally from Bosnia, is a registered psychotherapist who works with refugees.”
In December 2010, Te Papa Tongarewa selected the Trust as the charity to receive the gifts donated to it at Christmas time. A beautiful Christmas tree was set up in Te Papa’s foyer, and a wonderful number of presents soon accumulated under the tree! It gave us a great deal of pleasure to deliver these … Continue reading Te Papa Tongarewa