Aug 9, 2026 · 13 min · 6 segments
Since forming in 2017, food redistribution charity EKTA has had more volunteers join and has seen steady growth - but the queues of people it serves has almost doubled. Keeping it all going in the…
Sadiq SalimGuest
Peyman SalimGuestEKTA VolunteerGuestEKTA Volunteer CoordinatorGuestRamuGuestHonestly, it gives me more than sometimes what I give because I get all of the vibes.
Ektha started in 2017 as a charity to help new migrants, but since then it's expanded into all communities, continuing in its secular, non-religious spirit.
When you look at Ekta's volunteer base, you can't help but notice that the overwhelming majority of the people sorting, lifting, coordinating and distributing the food are all migrants themselves, like Ramu from South Africa.
What I really liked about Ekta was the diversity of people giving and receiving food.
And over time, what I've seen is that recipients become volunteers.
And so there's a circle.
And I guess that's what made me stay, seeing this evolution.
You have over 200 nationalities.
You have different faiths.
You have different looking people.
You have different cultures.
How do you get that? where people begin to think, hey, listen, we are after all one.
I had friends who were Hindus.
I went to a Christian school.
There was that in all that.
Now, one of the big challenges is to then find volunteers who are prepared to give up time were prepared to sacrifice their ability to make money to spend time in the community.
In summer, in winter, in windy Wellington, if you're not there, if you're not seen, then you are missed.
Honestly, it gives me more than sometimes what I give because I get all of the vibes.
Ektha started in 2017 as a charity to help new migrants, but since then it's expanded into all communities, continuing in its secular, non-religious spirit.
When you look at Ekta's volunteer base, you can't help but notice that the overwhelming majority of the people sorting, lifting, coordinating and distributing the food are all migrants themselves, like Ramu from South Africa.
What I really liked about Ekta was the diversity of people giving and receiving food.
And over time, what I've seen is that recipients become volunteers.
And so there's a circle.
And I guess that's what made me stay, seeing this evolution.
You have over 200 nationalities.
You have different faiths.
You have different looking people.
You have different cultures.
How do you get that? where people begin to think, hey, listen, we are after all one.
I had friends who were Hindus.
I went to a Christian school.
There was that in all that.
Now, one of the big challenges is to then find volunteers who are prepared to give up time were prepared to sacrifice their ability to make money to spend time in the community.
In summer, in winter, in windy Wellington, if you're not there, if you're not seen, then you are missed.
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