Lucy Tothill: Refugee and Human Rights Lawyer

In 2013, she and Gussie Cohen launched Educating Girls Globally (EGG), a student-led initiative to support young women overseas who were denied access to education.

Today, Lucy works as a refugee and human rights lawyer. Her recent case involved reuniting an Afghan family who had been separated for four long years after fleeing the Taliban in 2021. The client, a former woman judge, faced direct threats to her life, leaving Afghanistan with only her young granddaughter. Lucy’s role was to navigate an immigration system she describes as “lacking transparency, deeply inconsistent, and emotionally exhausting.”

But it was worth it. “After the family arrived here, I was honoured to be welcomed into their home to enjoy a meal. The anticipation of this reunion is what kept me motivated through the process.”

She’s quick to add that her clients made the job easy; she describes them as “grateful, polite, organised and kind throughout the entire ordeal, despite the stresses and challenges.”

So how can everyday New Zealanders help? “Donate or volunteer with the organisations listed on the New Zealand Red Cross website. And if anyone wants to support a family, with furniture or funds directly, I can help get it to where it’s needed.”

Despite everything Lucy has achieved, she still traces her compass back to EGG. “We started EGG because there was a need not being met. In the face of our own privilege, we couldn’t tolerate that.” She hopes EGG continues to serve as both a mirror and a challenge to the SMC community: “Have courage in the face of inequity. You never know where you'll go when you have a vision and you decide to share it.”

Her message to current students is simple: “Be gutsy - karawhiua! Choose a path that can make an impact. Lean into your skills and values. There are many ways to make a difference.”