Transforming adversity into action

I arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand as a refugee in 2014. Like many others, I came with uncertainty but also a deep hope for safety, stability, and opportunity. Today, I am a husband, a father, a business owner, and the founder of community driven organisations.

RiseLink Foundation was created from lived experience, mine and that of my co‑founders, to support young people and families from refugee, migrant, and ethnic backgrounds. Our focus is on creating real pathways into education, employment, wellbeing, and leadership. We don’t just understand the barriers; we have lived them and worked to overcome them.

I am also proud to have founded the Canterbury Somali Association in June 2019. What began as a grassroots initiative has grown into a trusted voice supporting the wider Somali community in Christchurch.

My journey reflects what is possible with the right support. It continues to shape my commitment to ensuring others can access opportunities, build confidence, and move forward with dignity and purpose.

I’m Marija, originally from Italy, and I’ve been building my life in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2020. Moving to a new country meant stepping away from everything familiar and learning to adapt quickly, which strengthened my confidence, resilience, and self-belief.

I began my journey working in hospitality, where I developed strong communication skills, learned to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, and built the ability to stay adaptable in fast-paced and uncertain environments. Over time, by growing my skills and surrounding myself with the right support, I created new opportunities and transitioned into real estate.

Working in real estate has deepened my understanding of people, their goals, and the challenges they face when trying to build a stable and secure future. It is a people-focused profession, which strongly aligns with my values and passion for supporting others.

Having gone through the immigration process myself, I understand what it means to start from scratch. It can be difficult to navigate unfamiliar systems and to find a sense of belonging in a new environment.

That is why being part of RiseLink Foundation is important to me. I am passionate about supporting young people and families from migrant and refugee backgrounds by helping them build confidence, make informed decisions, and feel a genuine sense of connection and belonging.

I arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2018 with hope in my heart and a deep drive to rebuild my life. Today, I am a husband, a father, a University of Canterbury graduate in Information Systems and Economics, and currently pursuing my Master’s in Data Science.

RiseLink Foundation represents the values that shaped my journey resilience, inclusion, and service. As someone who has experienced the challenges of resettlement firsthand, I know how overwhelming it can be to navigate systems, find your place, and build a future in a new country.

RiseLink exists to ease that path for others. We aim to create spaces where refugee and migrant families feel heard, supported, and empowered not just to survive, but to thrive.

Our work is deeply personal, because it comes from the lives we’ve lived. I’m proud to be part of an organisation that puts community first and turns adversity into opportunity.

I arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand from Sri Lanka in 2005 at the age of eight, navigating the challenges of language, identity, and belonging from a young age. As the eldest daughter in an immigrant family, I developed a strong sense of responsibility, resilience, and the ability to adapt while supporting others to do the same.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Otago, with a double major in Sociology and Politics and a minor in Criminology, as well as a postgraduate qualification in Journalism from the University of Canterbury. My experience working as a bilingual teacher aide sparked my passion for supporting children and young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Working closely with students navigating a new language and education system reminded me of my own early experiences and highlighted the importance of accessible, culturally responsive support.

This led me to create Moving Stories, a podcast that shares the lived experiences of immigrants in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through personal conversations, it explores themes of identity, settlement, and belonging, and amplifies voices that are often unheard within migrant communities.

Through my role at RiseLink, I aim to support young people and families to feel connected, confident, and empowered as they build their lives in Aotearoa.

I am Hassan Hassan, co-founder of RiseLink Foundation. I came to Aotearoa New Zealand as a young child from a refugee background unfamiliar with the language, the systems, and what it meant to belong. Education became my turning point.

From ESOL classes to becoming Student President at Hagley College, and later completing a Master’s in Urban Resilience and Renewal, I turned early adversity into purpose. Through my research, I uncovered a critical gap: too many young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds are excluded from decisions that shape their lives.

RiseLink was created to address that gap. It is more than a foundation it is a movement grounded in lived experience, driven by equity, and powered by community-led solutions. We exist to uplift others the way we were once uplifted so no child walks that journey alone.