Luo Community of NZ Incorporated

05/10/2026

Last weekend was truly special as we officially welcomed Vincent Oroma into our Luo community!

Vincent arrived from Uganda and joined his family here in Aotearoa New Zealand less than three months ago — and in that short time, he has already become an active and valued part of our community. We’re so happy to have you with us, Vincent!

Our celebration was made even more meaningful by the wisdom, humour and stories shared by our elders led by our founding Chairperson Mzee Francis Ogwaro. 🥰 They took us on a journey through the joys and challenges of raising children away from home while keeping our Luo identity alive.
From children forgetting their mother tongue, to learning traditional cooking, navigating different cultures, and finding creative ways to pass our traditions from one generation to the next — our elders reminded us that culture doesn’t survive by accident; it survives when we intentionally pass it on.

There were stories, laughter, lessons, memories and plenty of those “when we were growing up…” moments! 😂❤️ It was a beautiful bridge between generations — a reminder that our elders carry treasures that our younger generations deserve to inherit.

We are deeply grateful to our elders for sharing their experiences and memories, and to everyone who came together to celebrate who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.
From our elders’ wisdom to our children’s dreams — together, we are building the future of our Luo community.

THIS WEEKEND: LET’S KEEP LEARNING!
Our Luo Community Learning Hub continues this Saturday with an exciting Train-the-Trainer session focused on emergency preparedness, resilience, Capability building and building stronger, more prepared communities.
Because our future isn’t just about preserving our past — it’s about equipping the next generation to thrive.

Venue: Salvation Army, Lower Hutt

Come ready to learn, share, connect, laugh and grow together! 🤝🏾

22/09/2026

What an incredible few weeks for our Luo and ethnic Community!

We’ve been listening to our community, turning feedback into action, and creating opportunities to learn, connect and grow together.

On the 5th SEPTEMBER | WOMEN’S SELF-DEFENSE : Our ethnic women came together for another an empowering self-defense course led by Angie Meiklejohn.
After last year’s session, our feedback showed that women wanted another opportunity to build confidence, learn practical skills and feel more prepared.
And we made it happen!

Then, on the 19th of SEPTEMBER | COMMUNITY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS : We then brought our community together for an important emergency preparedness session with WREMO, led by Grace Hiess.
This was another idea that came directly from community feedback — especially the need to ensure our refugee, migrant and ethnic communities have the knowledge and tools to prepare for emergencies.

LISTEN. LEARN. EMPOWER. PREPARE.
These workshops are more than just sessions — they are about building confidence, strengthening connections and creating a safer, more resilient community together.

Please see attached are some of the photos we took during these sessions.

A massive THANK YOU to Angie Meiklejohn, Grace Hiess, and to everyone who showed up, participated and shared their voices!

Our community. Our voice. Our strength.

We look forward to next sessions in October which will focus on First Aid and Train the Trainer 🙏🥰❤️

04/09/2026

We wrapped up August with insightful, practical and exciting workshop on Saturday 29th delivered by Dr. Junaid Qureshi & Tooba Junaid. The workshop brought our community together for a day of learning, creativity, connection, and leadership!

The workshop was based on Community Leadership, and self confidence with an inspiring Public Speaking session. Participants explored the power of understanding the why, when and what behind communication, shared their dreams and strengths, stepped outside their comfort zones, and built confidence in speaking up.

Our tamariki enjoyed a range of activities—from colouring, drawing and building to maths challenges, book-making and creative card-making. It was wonderful to see the older children supporting and playing with the younger ones, creating such a positive and caring environment.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a fun, supportive and empowering day!

Here’s to more learning, connection and community in the months ahead! This month, we shall have Women’s Self-Defence Course starting from 12PM tomorrow.

26/08/2026

We are resuming our Learning hub this weekend. All are welcome 🙏 🥰

20/07/2026

We were honoured to be invited by the Hutt Multicultural Council Inc to perform at this year's Matariki celebration, and what a joy it was to share the vibrant spirit of the Luo culture with our community!

Our performance on Sunday 19th of July celebrated the heartbeat of Luo culture - the drum.
For us, the drum is more than music - it's the heartbeat of our culture. Its rhythm brings people together to celebrate life's joyful moments, honour those we've lost, and strengthen the bonds of family and community. Once the drum is heard, you know it's time to gather, dance, and celebrate!

A huge thank you to the Hutt Multicultural Council for bringing our diverse communities together to celebrate Matariki. We loved being part of it and we look forward to our continued partnership!



Here are links to our performances on Sunday and photos attached:

https://youtu.be/2PsjIOT17TI?feature=shared

https://youtu.be/csQKadfHp1M?feature=shared

04/07/2026

"Culture comes alive when we dance, connect, and celebrate together."

What an honour for our Luo Dance Group to perform in Porirua after being invited by Porirua City Council! 💃🏾🥁

We were proud to share the spirit, energy, and beauty of Luo culture with our amazing Porirua community. Thank you to Porirua City Council for championing diversity and creating spaces where every culture can shine.

Here's to building stronger communities—one dance at a time! ❤️

https://youtu.be/aLo0MH2lm30?feature=shared

30/06/2026

"When we dance, we tell our story. When we come together, we build a future filled with hope, belonging, and opportunity."

https://youtu.be/sJZQB2ZtM2s?feature=shared

24/06/2026

"When we dance, we tell our story. When we come together, we build a future filled with hope, belonging, and opportunity."

Today, our Luo Community proudly attended and performed at New Zealand Parliament (Beehive) celebrating World Refugee Day, sharing the beauty, energy, and rich cultural heritage of our people through music and dance. Our incredible dance group lit up the event with vibrant performances that had the audience smiling, clapping, and celebrating alongside us!

World Refugee Day is a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and contributions that refugee communities bring to our nation. We are proud to stand together, celebrate our cultures, and continue building stronger, more connected communities.

We were especially excited today to hear the announcement from the Minister that the CORS programme has now been declared PERMANENT! 🎉 This is a significant milestone that will provide certainty, support, and opportunity for refugee communities across New Zealand for years to come.

A huge thank you to Red Cross Team for organising such a wonderful celebration and to everyone who attended, supported, and cheered on our performers today. ❤️

Watch the space for the coming Luo programs/events.

https://youtu.be/sJZQB2ZtM2s?feature=shared

"When we dance, we tell our story. When we come together, we build ...

04/06/2026

On Saturday, 30 May 2026, the Auckland Luo Learning Community Hub proudly hosted it's last Learning hub workshop "Developing Leaders and Leadership Skills / Nurturing Motivation and Interest" at MPHS Community Hub in Henderson, Auckland.

We were honoured to welcome Dr. Asif Khan, President of the Pakistan Association of New Zealand (PANZ), as our keynote speaker. His inspiring presentation encouraged participants to discover their leadership potential, strengthen their confidence, develop effective communication skills, and support the growth and success of young people within our communities. What an incredible afternoon of learning, inspiration, connection, and community spirit!

The workshop was filled with insightful discussions, interactive participation, thoughtful questions, and valuable learning opportunities. Participants shared experiences, explored new ideas, and left feeling motivated and empowered to make positive contributions within their families, schools, workplaces, and communities.

A special thank you to all our team in Auckland for their passion and professionalism, delivering such an engaging, thought-provoking, and impactful sessions, our amazing volunteers, organisers, supporters, and community members whose hard work behind the scenes made this hub possible. And most importantly, THANK YOU to every participant who attended, contributed, asked questions, shared ideas, and helped create such a positive and welcoming atmosphere.

As this successful Auckland Luo Learning Community Hub workshop comes to a close, we celebrate the knowledge gained, the friendships strengthened, and the inspiration sparked throughout the sessions.

✨ This is only the beginning!

We look forward to bringing many more exciting workshops, educational programmes, leadership initiatives, family events, and community activities in the coming months and years ahead.

Together, we will continue building stronger leaders, stronger families, and a stronger community.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

18/05/2026

While the Wellington Luo Learning Community Hub takes a short break until June, the Auckland Luo Learning Community Hub proudly hosted its 4th successful session on Saturday, 16th May 2026. The workshop, Being Safe at School/Care, Resilience & Well-being, was delivered by the wonderful Sara Nusrat and brought together families, parents, students, and community members for an afternoon full of learning, support, and positive connection. 💙

Sara Nusrat shared valuable insights on student safety, emotional well-being, building resilience in children and young people, and strengthening communication between schools and families. Participants were actively engaged throughout the session, contributing thoughtful questions during the lively Q&A discussion and enjoying interactive group activities, meaningful networking, and strong community connection. 🙌✨

Feedback from attendees highlighted the workshop’s success in raising awareness around student safety, resilience, and positive support systems for children and families. A heartfelt thank you to all organizers, volunteers, speakers, families, and participants who helped make this event impactful and memorable. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for the final Auckland session after next week!