Ms Dushime, who is in her second year studying towards an oral health degree at the University of Otago, was among the refugees to share their experiences with Dunedin residents at a ``human library'' held at Dunedin Community Gallery at the weekend.
The event, which is aimed at fighting misconceptions about refugees, is part of a wider exhibition titled "Transplanted: Refugee Portraits of New Zealand'', which includes 2m-tall portraits of New Zealand refugees taken by photographer Alistair Guthrie.
Ms Dushime said sharing her experience with Dunedin residents had been "really great''.
She came to New Zealand in 2008 aged 12 and had positive memories of arriving at Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre.
"It was like paradise, to be honest.
"Everything was very, very clean, the buildings were intact, there was playgrounds for the children.
"It was just a good time for me.''
She had also enjoyed hearing the stories of other refugees and their experiences.
Exhibition organiser Tracey Barnett said the exhibition was about telling the stories of refugees, whose lives were transplanted when they arrived in New Zealand.
"I hope that this exhibit shows that these lives are much bigger than those few lives where they had to struggle [to transition to life in New Zealand].''
