A group of Dunedin Arabic speakers are keen to share their language skills and experiences to help Syrian refugees adjust to life in the city.
A network of 11 Arabic interpreters - most from countries affected by war themselves - has been organised as part of Southern District Health Board efforts to prepare for the arrival of Syrian refugees, from April 22.
Among them is computer science student Yasmin Saleem, who left Damascus, Syria, to study at the University of Otago after her studies and life back home were affected by war.
She hoped sharing her experience of adjusting to Dunedin and New Zealand culture would also help the refugees.
‘‘As a young person who came to Dunedin the first time I was so worried and I didn't know what to do.''
Dunedin Hospital patient affairs team leader Wesley Bachur, who organises interpreters for patients not proficient in English, said it was ‘‘really important'' to have good-quality interpreters ready when refugees began arriving.
He had been impressed at the ‘‘outpouring'' of support from Arabic speakers in Dunedin.
The DHB was working with the Red Cross to investigate having the group of interpreters work outside the hospital, for instance when the refugees visited GPs.
Another interpreter, Afife Harris, who moved to Dunedin in 1990, was keen to draw on her experience.
‘‘I didn't know anybody,'' Mrs Harris said.
Aya Al-Mahary, from Iraq, said she had experienced health issues recently and understood the importance of refugees understanding what was going on when they came into hospital.
Another reason she offered to be an interpreter was because of her love of Arabic and the way it connected so many different countries around the world.
May Taha, from Syria, who had been in Dunedin for about two years, wanted to help because she had a similar background to the refugees and, like them, had escaped the conflict.
PhD student Aram Babakr, from Iraq, was keen to use his skills as an Arabic speaker and a trained doctor to help refugees once they arrived.
Interpreting New Zealand chief executive Robyn Pask said its Dunedin training course, in which many of the 11 would take part, was starting on Friday.
To pass, interpreters had to first prove their English was up to scratch, Ms Pask said.
Having good interpreters would be ‘‘utterly vital'' once the Syrian refugees arrived.
