Positive Peace Project coming to Leeton shire

The Leeton Positive Peace workshop was held over two days last week and is an initiative of Multicultural NSW.

What the group was working on is known as the "Compact Program", which aims to strengthen community cohesion.

Using the Positive Peace research from the Institute for Economics and Peace Leeton community representatives have come together to develop a social cohesion project underpinned the this research.

Director of Partnerships at the Institute of Economics and Peace, Charles Allen, said Leeton was the first regional area to take part in the program.

Funding has been made available for the social enterprise project, which will be started up in the shire with the idea of helping many people in the community.

Leeton was chosen to take part for many reasons, but most notably because of its work with migrants and refugees in the shire, which is reflective of the institute's peace values.

"Our work is to work with the local community and to build their understanding of 'positive peace'," Mr Allen said.

"How positive peace can be used to strengthen social systems.

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"It's clear Leeton is very engaged in community building. It's very interesting when you drive into Leeton and you see the sign recognising diversity, as well as the mention of the local Indigenous community.

"Having said that, there is recognition that there are people who are left behind and this is where this social enterprise project comes into play."

Those attending the workshop were from all manner of backgrounds and experience.

Their job is to now come up with an idea for this project and implement it as soon as possible.

Options at the moment include an event to bring youth together, mentor training to support youth and a forum for youth to support needs.

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