Red Cross Dunedin youth officer Sakhr Munassar said since he began a project of recruiting young former refugees to volunteer for various causes in September, he was surprised to find they were all "very keen".
In fact, for most projects there were far more sign-ups than needed.
"We had to start picking them randomly because otherwise they would say ‘Why didn’t you pick me?’ and get jealous I guess."
More than 20 young refugees in Dunedin and nine in Mosgiel had signed up to the new scheme.
Their efforts so far included a gardening project at the Puketai centre, representing the Red Cross at the Dunedin Marathon, de-thorning roses for Red Cross Red Rose Day and volunteering at the Dunedin East Rotary Club’s annual charity duck race.
Young volunteer Nada Haroura (15), originally from Syria, said they managed to attract people to their stall at the duck race by playing Arabic music.
"I think they found it very interesting to hear music in another language."
Young former refugees would all fight to be involved in the projects, she said.
"It’s very exciting to give back what we take from New Zealand."
Nada attends Otago Girls’ High School and found it difficult in the beginning with the language barrier, but said it gradually got easier.
She wants to become a doctor, but will have to push past her squeamishness, as identified when a teacher brought out a cow eye for the class to dissect at school this week.
"I started crying and had a bad headache. I had to hold myself to stand up and felt sick so they let me go home."
Nada came over with her mother, sister and brother as part of the first intake in April last year.
Mahmoud Wees (19), also from Syria, said he wanted to volunteer because he liked "helping other people".
He quickly got the hang of the gardening work at the Puketai Centre, he said.
"I looked on Youtube and some people taught us how to do it. It wasn’t too hard"
He studies english and the Otago Polytechnic, but eventually wants to become an IT program developer.
Mr Munassar said when the refugee youth signed up to volunteer, they would follow through and do the work.
"Usually, you get sign ups and then no-one shows up. I was so surprised, because I know from university how hard it is to find volunteers," he said.
During red rose day some of the volunteers ended up giving leftover flowers away for free if people did not have enough money, he said.
"It’s a fundraiser, but we also want people to get to know them, so there’s no harm in that."
