Citation

Carlton S. Int. J. Disaster Risk Reduct. 2015; 13: 342-349.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijdrr.2015.07.006

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The paper argues that volunteering has proven a critical source of wellbeing, belonging and leadership for refugee background youth in Canterbury, New Zealand, following the earthquakes of 2010-2011. In support of this claim, the paper considers the voluntary participation of refugee youth in two post-earthquake youth-created and -driven initiatives. The first initiative is the Student Volunteer Army, which mobilised thousands of volunteers to assist residents with the immediate-post-disaster clean-up following each of the major earthquakes in Canterbury. The Summerz End Youth Fest, which in April 2014 brought young people together for a day of celebration and fun, constitutes the second initiative.