Photo: Jessica Hinchliffe/ABC Brisbane
The women of Queensland’s Spice Exchange create different spice blends to sell.
This happy refugee story is from Australia, another country where refugees make valuable contributions, in this case sharing their beautiful foods and recipes with the broader population.
Jessica Hinchliffe writes at ABC Brisbane, “A social enterprise in Queensland is helping refugee and migrant women gain employment and foster community spirit through cooking.
“The Spice Exchange sees these enterprising women come together to create spice blends, condiments and gingerbread. They use recipes and spices well known in their home countries.
“Backed by Access Community Services, the social enterprise in Logan, south of Brisbane, also helps the women practise their English-speaking skills.
“Many of those involved are single women with dependent children, with limited education and literacy skills.
“Organiser Tianna Dencher said the Spice Exchange was helping these women, who sometimes felt isolated, find their voice. …
” ‘We saw that these women were comfortable with food and we decided to create something that would engage women around food.
” ‘Many of the women had such great cultural diversity, had beautiful cuisines that had spices … that’s how we started.’
“The program also teaches the women about workplace culture, marketing and how to price products. …
“Adhel Mawien Ukong began with the Spice Exchange in September and said the program provided her with opportunities for her and her children.
” ‘I’ve learnt so much,’ she said. ‘I start at 9:00 am and finish at 2.30 pm, and it’s given me a job four days a week and it’s helped us.
I love it so much so I come here every day of the week sometimes, and I’ve invited other women to join me.’ “
Hat Tip to @VictoriaLynden on twitter.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
Look at those beautiful proud faces! I like the way you’re bringing your own twist to the topics in the news . . .
It means so much to these women to have something useful to do and be able to interact with others. Isolation can be soul-killing.