Breaking down cultural barriers at Newcastle Corps
BY LAUREN MARTIN
Every Saturday during school terms, 50 Afghan-Australian children attend Newcastle Corps in the NSW Hunter Valley. They’re on site for the Afghan-Pashtun Language School, one of the many ways The Salvation Army and the local Afghan community are partnering.
Newcastle Corps Officers Majors Leanne and Peter Bennett first began to meet members of the Afghan community last year when they expanded their Wednesday free food market.
“Some Afghan ladies began to come,” said Leanne. “And soon more came, and we needed some assistance with translating, so we reached out locally and this resulted in a new partnership with the Afghan Cultural Association of Newcastle.”
Sami Zakhil is the President of the Afghan Cultural Association of Newcastle. He says working with Leanne and Peter and the team at Newcastle Corps has been a beautiful journey of mutual understanding.
“We live in this community – we are all one. So, we have to learn mutual engagements and respect,” he said.
“It’s from both directions. There are times, for example, they have joined our celebrations, and we have come to attend their celebrations.”
When the Afghan Cultural Association of Newcastle needed space to open its Afghan-Pashtun Language School, where Afghan children are taught about their cultural heritage and language, approaching The Salvation Army was a natural choice. The school held its official launch in October last year.
“Afghans [already] knew The Salvation Army and the facility here,” said Sami. “We want to acknowledge their contribution and the support that they have provided to the communities and to the children, especially for the Food Market because it makes a big difference to the lives of our families.”
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Having a space where they are known and feel safe is important for the community, particularly for Afghan women, said Sami. Over time, as relationships between the Cultural Association of Newcastle and The Salvation Army grew, opportunities for further connection emerged. The Salvation Army worship hall has even been used to host birthday parties for Afghan women.
“It’s very hard for Afghan women to go out here; they have to keep in mind their traditions and religion,” said Sami. “They want to go somewhere where they feel safe and they are protected. They have the trust to come here, especially in the evening, to have a party here of about 150 to 200 women. That means that the trust is there, and they believe that if we come here, there is safety and protection.”
Leanne said it’s been wonderful to learn more about the Afghan culture.
“Over the last year we have watched the women who come to our Wednesday Food Market move from being timid to enjoying being a part of the community who attend. A number now bring me homemade cooking, which is delicious!”
On Christmas Eve 2025, the worship hall of Newcastle Corps resounded with worship and carols. Among those in attendance were many families from the local Afghan community, joining in the Christian Christmas tradition as a mark of respect for their new Salvation Army friends.
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