ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
During the first years of settlement, it is common for ethnic people not to feel comfortable or confident when engaging with kiwi organisations. Most of the time it’s because of lack of English language skills or because they don’t meet their different cultural needs. For example, the concept of family for ethnic people is different and children will not be expected to leave the parents’ home as they turn 18 years old.
It was issues like this that inspired a group of ethnic women in Hamilton in the late 1990s to dream of an organisation that catered for the specific needs of ethnic families, even better would be to have a Centre where ethnic women could meet and find support if they were struggling. After many meetings in their garages to plan a set up for an organisation, and thanks to the support of Shakti and other stakeholders at the time, Shama was born in August 2002.
Sixteen years later, Shama is a recognised organisation, an expert in delivering services to ethnic women and their families. Shama aims to support the development of a truly multi-cultural New Zealand where all women from ethnic minorities would be fully integrated into New Zealand society, to live with dignity, free from fear of violence and discrimination, and to be recognised as valuable contributors to their local communities.
The primary objective of Shama is to be a vibrant, sustainable social service organisation that provides culturally appropriate support, advocacy, and programmes to ethnic women, their children and families, and to be a source of strength and empowerment for ethnic women of all ages.
While Shama provides specialist support for those experiencing violence, it takes a holistic approach to the needs of women, their children and families. Shama is a community hub for hundreds of ethnic families in the Hamilton area, as we provide peer-to-peer support for ethnic women through the running of regular classes in crafts, cooking, learning to drive, as well as the parent support and playgroups.
The programmes currently provided by Shama fall into three categories:
During the first years of settlement, it is common for ethnic people not to feel comfortable or confident when engaging with kiwi organisations. Most of the time it’s because of lack of English language skills or because they don’t meet their different cultural needs. For example, the concept of...
During the first years of settlement, it is common for ethnic people not to feel comfortable or confident when engaging with kiwi organisations. Most of the time it’s because of lack of English language skills or because they don’t meet their different cultural needs. For example, the concept of family for ethnic people is different and children will not be expected to leave the parents’ home as they turn 18 years old.
It was issues like this that inspired a group of ethnic women in Hamilton in the late 1990s to dream of an organisation that catered for the specific needs of ethnic families, even better would be to have a Centre where ethnic women could meet and find support if they were struggling. After many meetings in their garages to plan a set up for an organisation, and thanks to the support of Shakti and other stakeholders at the time, Shama was born in August 2002.
Sixteen years later, Shama is a recognised organisation, an expert in delivering services to ethnic women and their families. Shama aims to support the development of a truly multi-cultural New Zealand where all women from ethnic minorities would be fully integrated into New Zealand society, to live with dignity, free from fear of violence and discrimination, and to be recognised as valuable contributors to their local communities.
The primary objective of Shama is to be a vibrant, sustainable social service organisation that provides culturally appropriate support, advocacy, and programmes to ethnic women, their children and families, and to be a source of strength and empowerment for ethnic women of all ages.
While Shama provides specialist support for those experiencing violence, it takes a holistic approach to the needs of women, their children and families. Shama is a community hub for hundreds of ethnic families in the Hamilton area, as we provide peer-to-peer support for ethnic women through the running of regular classes in crafts, cooking, learning to drive, as well as the parent support and playgroups.
The programmes currently provided by Shama fall into three categories:
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