Finding Belonging Through Sisterhood

In 2006, Eman Ghandour was only ten years old when she moved all the way from Jordan to New Zealand with her family. Like many people starting life in a new country, she had to figure out where she fit. There was the excitement of new opportunities, but also the challenge of holding on to the Jordanian culture and sense of identity she cherished so much.

“Growing up in Ōtepoti Dunedin, you felt different, but you did your best to fit in.”

Many years later that experience, along with meeting new people who shared her feelings, inspired Eman to create the Khawat Network, a group that helps hundreds young women from diverse backgrounds to find a community in Aotearoa.

Finding Belonging

Growing up, Eman's sisters were her first community.

They were the people she turned to for advice, encouragement and support. Having that close-knit network around her showed just how important connection is, not only for getting through life's challenges but for her overall wellbeing.

Moving away from her family to Auckland in 2019 meant rebuilding community from scratch. It was a reminder of how difficult it can be to find meaningful connections, particularly for women navigating multiple cultures.

“When I first moved to Auckland, I felt like there were pieces of me that were really missing.”

After meeting a number of other women who felt the same as her, Eman realised she is not alone and that this sense of ‘third culture’ identity was something many people lived with.

Creating the Khawat Network

Instead of accepting a feeling of isolation, Eman set out to create the kind of space she wished had existed for her when she first moved. In 2021, Eman created a WhatsApp group and added a few women who shared her experience finding community, careers and opportunities in an unfamiliar place.

"There was no business plan and no fancy strategy, just a group chat."

What started with just 10 members quickly grew through word of mouth. Women invited friends, who invited their friends, and before long the community had taken on a life of its own.

Today, more than 300 women are part of the Khawat Network.

Members connect over everything from career advice and professional opportunities to life milestones, cultural experiences and everyday challenges. Along the way, many have formed genuine friendships and a support network they can rely on.

"It's about showing up for each other," says Eman. "It's about knowing you're not alone."

The name Khawat comes from the Arabic word for "sisters", a call-back to Eman’s connection with her family.

Khawat Network continues to grow as a space where women can find their people, build meaningful relationships, and navigate life in New Zealand with confidence.

"Sometimes the safe space you create for someone could be the catalyst that changes their life."

For Eman, the journey from Jordan to New Zealand has come full circle. What started as her own search for community has helped hundreds of other women find theirs too.