Volunteer Story - Nisha

What drives someone to spend their Wednesday evenings facilitating creative writing sessions behind prison walls? For Nisha, a volunteer with our Navigate Initiative Writers' Group, the answer lies in deep-seated belief that everyone deserves a second chance.

Having just completed her Certificate in Criminal Justice at the University of Canterbury, Nisha is exploring career paths in the field. "There's quite a few career paths… prison officer, probation and parole, like there's lots of different avenues that you can go down, and for me, I want to be able to help people. That's my passion."

With her sister already working in probation and parole, Nisha understands the industry's challenges. "I think it's an industry that needs empathy and love," she explains. "I definitely want to keep expanding my knowledge because knowledge is power, right, and it’ll help me to be able to do what I can for people".

Volunteering with Pathway provides invaluable real-world experience alongside her studies. "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, and I just think that it's a real privilege to actually be able to be involved in that."

The reality of the Leimon Villas, where the Navigate Initiative is based, surprised her. "It almost feels like it's our little community separate from the prison. When you think of a prison, you think of steel bars and orange jumpsuits, whereas it actually feels separate, and I think that's really important for the guys because they've worked to be there."

In the Writers' Group sessions, what strikes Nisha most is the humanity she encounters. "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, and all you feel is empathy for them."

She's gained insight into how circumstances shape choices: "If you're only exposed to gangs and drugs and violence, why would you think anything else is normal? That's your normal."

This understanding has reinforced her belief in the power of simply showing up. "Your presence could make the world of difference to someone without you ever knowing it. Just by you showing up there every Wednesday shows the consistency and that there's hope."

For those considering volunteering, her message is clear: "If you've got the drive to help, there's nothing stopping you. It is such a rewarding thing to be able to go and interact with these men, hear their stories, and it's a real privilege."

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