Narayan given reprieve by the new government as deportation halted. Read More

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A young Fijian man with serious intellectual disabilities is on the verge of being deported back to Fiji.

New Zealand Immigration plans to deport Sagar Narayan even though Sagar's family has advised the government department that he had no support network back here in Fiji. Continue reading

But that's not the case at Joyful Ministries - a monthly church service and social group with activities for people with intellectual disabilities in Hamilton.

Church goers are encouraged to express themselves by singing and being as loud as they please.

Organiser Jeni Hawker says the service is about connecting like-minded people through fun, sensory activities and spirituality.

"It's a real failure free environment where they can come and go, and they use their own talents and gifts, and they go home with something they've created."

Joyful Ministries has been running for five years with the support of the Hamilton City Baptist Church and volunteers who chip in.

Co organiser Gaylene Pluck says it operates on a small budget and has grown through word of mouth from ten attendees to more than 40.

Between Hawker and Pluck the pair are "quite good at making something out of nothing".

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Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• nzherald.co.nz screenshot

Marketing Manager Sarah Ford said the cruise director's call was a big deal, as they usually only sell around 100 at a time.

She said one of the things that attracted the cruise ship's business was that their breads are made by Wellingtonians with intellectual disabilities.

Source
nzherald.co.nz