Andreja all set to help migrants

SWISS born Andreja Phillips is on top of the world after securing herself the job of coordinator at the Marlborough Migrant Centre.

Andreja, who has travelled the world, made her first visit to New Zealand in 1993 as an exchange student at Rangi Ruru Girls' School in Christchurch.

But she first fell in love with the place after looking at photos her brother had taken on his visit to New Zealand.

She's now looking forward to stepping into her new role, one that is close to her heart, helping migrants settle into the area. It is a situation she knows about first hand.

"I'm just looking forward to working with lots of people from different nations and ethnicities and trying to help them as much as possible," she says.

Her Slovenian parents migrated to Switzerland in the 1960s and because of this Andreja has always been aware of migrant issues.

After she completed high school, Andreja studied social and cultural anthropology at the University of Zurich.

Her degree focused on migrant issues including the "push and pull factors" of migration.

Andreja has spent a lot of time travelling around the world and as well as working for an international organisation she has also met people of different nationalities throughout her travels.

This has helped her to understand other cultures.

In 2003 she made New Zealand her home, basing herself in Wellington where she worked as an international liaison for the Ministry for the Environment.

Her desire for a change of scenery attracted her to Marlborough, where she worked in the vineyards.

Her new job is a perfect opportunity to build on the skills she already has, and she says it's also great for the Marlborough community.

"With a lot more migrants coming here now for all sorts of reasons, especially to work in the vineyards, it's needed and will assist in making people feel more comfortable here and help them find their way around a bit easier."

Andreja will help by accessing different services and establish networks to help make settling into the area easier for migrants.

"I know what it means to live abroad and to keep your identity. It's getting the balance right," she says.

It's also about helping migrants to meet other people in the same situation and to help them integrate into the community.

The Multi Cultural Festival, due to take place in March, will be one of the many ways in which people will be able to do that. "It's exciting stuff, she says."

Andreja started work at the Marlborough Migrant Centre on Monday. The centre will officially open in the next few weeks when the necessary systems are set up.

Marlborough Midweek 17 January 2007
Photo and text Copyright 2007 Marlborough Express - used with permission

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