19/06/2026
"Your presence could make the world of difference to someone without you ever knowing it."
Nisha volunteers with Pathway's writers' group on Wednesday evenings inside the NI Unit at Christchurch men's Prison, a residential unit where people in the Navigate Initiative are preparing to return to the community.
She recently finished a Certificate in Criminal Justice at the University of Canterbury and is exploring where her career will take her. Volunteering, she says, has shaped how she sees that work.
"When I heard about what Pathway does and the villas at the prison, that's such a crucial time in that person's life when they're about to be reintegrated into the community. I just think that it's a real privilege to actually be able to be involved in that."
What struck her most when she arrived was how the space felt. Less like a prison, more like a small community apart from one.
"You just feel like you're sitting in a room with people. They shouldn't be put into a different category. They're still people, they're still human."
For anyone thinking about it, her message is simple: "If you've got the drive to help, there's nothing stopping you."
This Volunteer Week, we're looking for people ready to show up. Have you ever considered volunteering in a setting like this?
DM us if you’re interested!
