Connecting, belonging: Volunteering, wellbeing and leadership among refugee youth. (September 2015) - Carlton, Sally
Abstract: The paper argues that volunteering has proven a critical source of wellbeing, belonging and leadership for refugee background youth in Canterbury, New Zealand, following the earthquakes of 2010–2011. In support of this claim, the paper considers the voluntary participation of refugee youth in two post-earthquake youth-created and -driven initiatives. The first initiative is the Student Volunteer Army, which mobilised thousands of volunteers to assist residents with the immediate-post-disaster clean-up following each of the major earthquakes in Canterbury. The Summerz End Youth Fest, which in April 2014 brought young people together for a day of celebration and fun, constitutes the second initiative.