Tamworth International Women's Day: Yvesy Sepulveda reflects on life in Colombia and making Tamworth a more welcoming place

For years she worked with the army as a humanitarian lawyer, educating soldiers about the rules of engagement to protect civilians - four years later in Australia, she helps migrants and refugees settle into Tamworth and has created her own project, Creating Community Around the Table.

"Although I was born in Medellin in the times of Pablo Escobar and the decades of armed conflict, I grew up largely innocent of most of this due to the protection of my parents," Ms Sepulveda said.

"I liked everything about humanitarian law because it was based in conflict-solving with victims - I like to help people who have lived in a conflict where there can be trauma from war."

"I like to work with people in that way, that's why I also like to work with people from refugee backgrounds, it can be quite different in what they need but it's still human rights."

When Ms Sepulveda first moved to Tamworth four years ago, she lived outside of town, didn't drive or speak English and felt isolated from the community.

She thought about how she could help people like herself and considered moving to another country to volunteer - until her husband suggested she could do the same thing from the comfort of her living room.

So she started Creating Community Around the Table and invited isolated people in the community to come and talk, try a new dish and make connections.

"It's a lot of people who don't know each other, but they go as friends and it's beautiful," she said.

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"Once I gave to the community, it started to give me love.

"That's what I tell people, when you give love, you get love."

As well as her own initiative, Ms Sepulveda also works at Centacare as a community multicultural officer.

Her role involves supporting people from the migrant and refugee communities; ensuring their wellbeing and guiding them through the transition.

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