WHEN the federal government put out a cartoon say "no way" to asylum seekers from Afghanistan it struck a gong that reverberated around the nation.
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Some church leaders gathered together to begin a movement playing off the government's slogan.
They began calling themselves "Love Makes A Way".
Here were people who would seek to use non-violent actions to call attention to the injustices in our asylum seeker system, particularly the fact that 1000 children are in immigration detention centres.
Love Makes A Way has found its way to Leeton in the form of tutor english groups set up to help our Afghani brothers with their spoken and written English.
Volunteer tutors, TAFE-trained and accredited, under the wonderful care and skill of Susie Rowe, spend time for a couple of hours each week with their small group of Hazara (Afghani) men and some women of different cultures.
The majority of men (about 70 in number) are gainfully employed by JBS Australia.
These men are making an important economic and cultural contribution to our community.
Needless to say the participants are delighted to have the opportunity to improve their spoken and written English as they realise that language is the essential skill that will connect them more inclusively to our Leeton community.
If you get the opportunity, make the effort to greet the men as they pass by you in the town.
Peter McPhee
Leeton