Welcoming Communities

Finding my feet in Central Otago - Thandaza's story

When I migrated to New Zealand in December last year, I knew that if I wanted to settle in and adapt quickly, I needed to connect with the local community. I started joining local Facebook groups to find out what was happening in the area, and that was where I came across COREAP and the many programmes they offered to the local community.

I immersed myself in the programmes and clubs available, including the Shared Garden, Water Wellness Course and Financial Wellbeing programme, just to name a few. Each experience gave me an opportunity to meet people, learn something new and, most importantly, feel more connected to my new home.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was my fear of water. I had always been scared of water. Even though my husband and our two children could swim, I had never felt the urge to learn myself. Swimming simply wasn't something I ever imagined doing.

Then I saw an advertisement for the Water Wellness Course. What caught my attention was that it specifically welcomed people with little or no experience in the water. I thought to myself, maybe this is my chance to face my fear.

During the course, I met a wonderful group of women who welcomed me with so much warmth and kindness. It didn't matter that I was the youngest in the group; they treated me with love, encouragement and respect. Every week, they encouraged me to push a little further, and slowly, my fear of the water began to disappear.

The women encouraged me to take the next step and enrol in swimming lessons, especially because I was now living in an area surrounded by water. Their encouragement gave me the confidence to believe that learning to swim was something I could actually achieve.

After completing the Water Wellness programme, another opportunity came along: Women's Wednesdays*, a 10-week swimming programme in Cromwell facilitated by the Welcoming Communities under Central Otago District Council. The group was made up of women with different levels of swimming ability, from beginners to more experienced swimmers, and everyone was supported according to their individual needs.

By the end of those 10 weeks, I had achieved something I once thought was impossible. I could float, and I could swim with a board. For someone who had spent most of her life being afraid of the water, this was a huge achievement.

I am now attending swimming lessons at Swim School, and I am hopeful that when Women's Wednesdays resumes in spring, I will be able to return to the pool with even more confidence and, hopefully, swim properly.

My experiences since moving to New Zealand have also strengthened something that has always been important to me: being part of a community and finding ways to contribute to it. I don't just want to be a member of the community; I want to be actively involved in it. This has led me to join the local multicultural group, where I can connect with other migrants, share experiences and help build connections between people from different backgrounds. I have also joined the Clyde & District Lions Club, where I will have an opportunity to serve the wider community and give back in whatever way I can.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge Emma McLean from COREAP and Heather Harries from CODC, who have both embraced me, supported me and helped me find my feet in Central Otago. Their kindness and encouragement have made a real difference in my journey of settling into my new home.

- Nomthandazo Mhlanga Ncube

*Women’s Wednesdays is a collaboration between Central Otago Welcoming Communities, Central Otago Swim Centres, Sport Central and Cromwell Community House. Men’s Mondays was launched in May at the Alexandra Pool. Keep an eye out for future programmes.