A group of teenagers who have been accepted into New Zealand as refugees visited Mount Albert Grammar School this week to learn what life will be like in a Kiwi high school.
The 24 young people, aged 13-19, were buddied with MAGS students and spent an afternoon in classes and looking around the school.
The teenagers have come from a variety of countries with their families, including Syria, Afghanistan, Colombia and Myanmar. They spend six weeks at the Refugee Resettlement Centre in Mangere before being placed around New Zealand, and enrolled at their local high school.
MAGS’ Head of English Language, Ms Pauline Godber, says MAGS hosts a group once a year. “The visit is beneficial for the refugee students and also our own – the MAGS students get to meet young people from countries very different to New Zealand, and hear a little of what their lives were like there.”