Geetha since 2014 manages and works as the coordinator of Migrant Connections Taranaki, which is a broad free service that supports migrants and refugees skilled and unskilled to overcome their challenges and work and live in Taranaki.
Principal supporters are The Toi Foundation, NPDC, Lotteries Grants, Governement Grants and
the TET Community Trust.
There are 72 different migrant nationalities in Taranaki. Many have come to work in the Oil and Gas Industry, but there a range of skilled and unskilled migrants and families that she is assisting.
Services for migrants include building networks and ethnic community connections, a mentoring programme, cultural awareness through Treaty of Waitangi do's and don'ts. assistance with education, housing, language translation and building awareness with local employers and migrant employee's to improve working relationships.
The challenges for Geetha are immense but she relishes her role and clearly goes the extra mile not always appreciated by her clients.
She is heavily involved with the Taranaki Multi Ethnic Council and the organisation of the annual Multi Ethnic Extravaganza which unfortunately has been effected by Covid 19.
She answered questions frankly about some of the challenges migrants face fitting into the New Plymouth Community particularly overcoming language barriers.
Thanked by Simon Northrop
