What’s the big deal?

I’d love to tell you that no matter where you are raised, and no matter who your parents are, you will have the same hopes, dreams, challenges, and path in life as anyone else—but that just isn’t realistic. Especially if you were raised, or are being raised, somewhere other than your parents’ home culture.

“What’s the big deal?” I hear you ask.

Well—it is. The stats don’t lie. Research by TCK Training, an organisation working with third culture kids globally (also known as globally mobile kids), recently found that TCKs are 47% more likely to experience suicidal ideation, 73% will struggle to find belonging, and many turn to alcohol and substance use as a coping mechanism.

When you look at New Zealand’s statistics for teen suicide, drug use, and alcohol abuse, there is a strong case for raising our kids with an awareness of life between cultures. Forty-three percent of Aucklanders were born outside of New Zealand (27% across the rest of the country). We also have immigrants who raise their children here, as well as Kiwis who have lived overseas and are now raising their families back in New Zealand.

It can sound like doom and gloom—but there is hope.

That same research shows that by increasing positive childhood experiences (see blog post on this), those numbers can be reduced significantly.

Growing up cross-culturally means learning to live between worlds—belonging everywhere and nowhere at once. You often learn early how to adapt, translate between cultures, and see life from multiple perspectives. This shouldn’t be seen as a disadvantage, but as something deeply empowering.

But when you don’t understand that living in a Chinese home in New Zealand, or having a Samoan dad and a Kiwi mum, may shape your sense of belonging or identity—how do you begin to work through that? These growing-up experiences are rich, but they can also carry real questions about identity, home, and where you truly belong.

Together, I believe we can build awareness and community that changes how we live—creating space for hope and for people to truly thrive.