Henry Kham Suan Thang has gone full circle since he moved to Nelson as a refugee three years ago.
Refugee Services supported Mr Thang and his family when they arrived, and now he is giving back.
Mr Thang trained as a Refugee Services volunteer in February with Chris Stothers. The pair are now helping a 28-year-old refugee settle in.
Ka Mo, who is originally from Myanmar, came to Nelson from Thailand in February.
He had been living in a refugee camp there since he was nine, and his parents have been in Nelson for two years.
Mr Thang arrived in New Zealand three years ago after seeking refugee status from Malaysia.
He is also originally from Myanmar, but had been in Malaysia for four years because it was too dangerous to stay in his home country.
Mr Thang and Mr Stothers have been helping Mr Mo with appointments and are also getting him English lessons.
Mr Mo, with Mr Thang translating, said he was very happy to be here.
He said he was finding it lonely, with such limited English, but New Zealand was a beautiful country.
Refugee Services Nelson volunteer programme co-ordinator Brittany Smith said it was wonderful to see former refugees like Mr Thang stepping up to support new arrivals. Mr Thang arrived with no knowledge of the way of life here and was guided through his transition with the help of volunteer support workers, she said.
"It truly is refugee resettlement taken full circle, which is touching to witness."
Mr Thang said he wanted to help Mr Mo because they had experienced the same things in life.
He said their backgrounds were very hard, and in contrast New Zealand was "nearly heaven".
Refugee Service's next three-day volunteer training course starts this weekend, with a new group of refugees arriving next month.
To register your place on the course or for more information call 035484978 or email brittany.refugeeservices@gmail.com.
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