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Teens extend hand of friendship to refugees
TEENAGERS on Sheffield's Manor estate have received an award for the way they welcomed refugees to the area.
When the H'Too family arrived in the neighbourhood last year to escape violence from the military in Burma, Poppy Curtis, aged 13, and fellow members of the Danewood and Pipworth youth group decided to take the family's two boys under their wing.
They invited Law Thow Doh H'Too, 14, and Kaw Do Sue H'too, 12, members of the Karen community which is discriminated against by the authorities in their homeland, to join their group, which does social activities and community projects in the area. The Manor youngsters even organised a street party in September, inviting other members of the Karen refugee community to attend fromacross the city.
Now they have won an award from City of Sanctuary, the organisation which helps refugees settle in Sheffield.
Donna Jones, a youth worker on the Manor, said: "Poppy in particular has supported, encouraged and defended the H'too family.
"She is a tomboy and it would have been very easy for her to use her tough image to harass or bully the family.
"Instead, she did entirely the opposite. She challenged any racist behaviour and safeguarded the two boys.
"She even learnt basic Burmese and has been an enthusiastic buddy."
Rev Inderjit Bhogal OBE, who works with refugees in Sheffield and presented the award, said: "These young people are an example to all of us.They are helping to make Sheffield a truly welcoming, safe place for everyone by their friendship."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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