Larissa Ahoy is an Australian indigenous artist from the Anaiwan tribe in Armidale, New South Wales. Larissa was born in Armidale in 1979. She is the daughter of Colin and Phyllis Ahoy and one of six children. Larissa is also the proud mother of six children herself.

Ahoy Family

Larissa started painting in her mid-30’s as a way of expressing herself and connecting herself to country, whilst also being able to tell the stories of her family and culture. “I have an extremely supportive family behind me, which has not only motivated me to pursue my passion as an artist but also to be a part of the community.”

In early 2021 Larissa together with her mother Phyllis and daughter Sueling reached out to Ignite with a dream of establishing their own art and design business. Now in September they are celebrating the launch of their online store offering a beautiful selection of art, homewares and lifestyle products created from Larissa’s art, Sueling’s design and Phyllis’s innovation and direction.

“My mother’s resilience is a trait I hope to possess one day, as she was a part of the Stolen Generation, and has raised a close knit and loving family. Although she was never taken she lost all of her brothers and sisters which was extremely traumatic and she never ever got over it. The three of us all play a major role in our new business because just like in life, we cannot do without one another.” – Larissa Ahoy

Nunawanna Designs is a family run business of 3 generations in Armidale NSW. It originated from the artwork created by a local artist Larissa Ahoy. Her daughter Sueling was inspired to take her mother’s art and turn it into digital designs to create beautiful products such as clothing and homewares.

Grandmother Phyllis Ahoy is the strength behind the business and assists in developing direction, ideas and marketing. The three women started working with Ignite in January 2021 and have been on a growth journey ever since.

Email: nunawannadesigns@gmail.com 
Website: Larissa Ahoy Art
Phone: 0466 211 550 – Sueling Ahoy

Yasameen Al-Natrawee’s daughter, Linda, is captured with her new refurbished laptop.

Refugee and resident of Fairfield in Sydney’s west, Yasameen Al-Natrawee, recently spoke to ABC News about how she had been severely affected by the COVID-19 lockdown, including losing work.

The former chemical engineer and single mother arrived in Australia with her seven-year-old daughter, Linda, in early 2020.

Technology barriers are commonplace and, as in Ms Al-Natrawee’s case, a mobile phone is often the only device with internet access at home, presenting challenges when schooling is driven online.

“It is hard to teach my daughter on a small screen, and some documents, PDFs, don’t open properly,” she told ABC News.

Ms Al-Natrawee’s challenges were alleviated when she received a refurbished laptop from a donation drive organised by Bob Olivier, a semi-retired data analyst and business owner from Sydney’s Lower North Shore, who contacted SSI offering to source laptops after he heard about another mother struggling with digital access.

Generous donor Bob Olivier (R) is captured with a box of refurbished laptops.

Iraqi refugee and mother of three, Farah Noaman, arrived in Australia with her family in 2019 and was struggling to assist her children with their schoolwork.

Interviewed by ABC News last month, she expressed her concern about online learning and its long-term impacts on her children’s education.

“My youngest child uses my phone [for online learning],” she said.

“It’s very hard using a phone to do homework.”

Mr Olivier said he heard the interview and it struck a chord.

“As a parent, I could imagine the challenge of seeing your children switch off and not be able to reach their full potential.”

Mr Olivier approached his friend Stephen Harman—a retired chartered accountant and volunteer at the Asylum Seekers Centre—to get involved in refurbishing the laptops.

“After I had spoken to my mate Stephen and he agreed to help me refurbish any used laptops I could get my hands on, I used social media and an existing Facebook community group to source them.”

He said he provided instructions to donors on how to erase old data for privacy before handing over their old devices.

“Stephen does a diagnostic and does a factory reset, including uploading Microsoft Office suite, so that laptops are ready to go.”

Mr Olivier’s first donation drive has successfully yielded eight laptops, one smartphone and two iPads, which have now been sent across to SSI to distribute to the refugee families that need them most.

Ms Al-Natrawee said, “Thank you, SSI and Mr Olivier, so much for the laptop, and Linda [my daughter] was so happy when we received it!”

Yamamah Agha, general manager of settlement service delivery at SSI, said access to technology was often taken for granted but refugees’ digital literacy was a significant issue that came into sharp focus during 2020 due to COVID-19.

“Issues with language and parents’ digital literacy present many challenges, including limited access to education and training, especially as it applies to the growing tendency to online learning and digital education delivery.

“It’s very difficult for families like the Noaman family as they’ve had to homeschool with a lack of access to devices.

“In larger refugee families, there is a greater need for digital hardware as family members are often required to attend online classes at the same time.”

Mr Oliver said he was getting ready to ramp up his efforts and had begun talking to local councils and larger businesses sourcing laptops, iPads and phones for a second round.

“My wife is also speaking to one of the nearby private schools.”

When asked why he was determined to continue the laptop donation drive, Mr Olivier said it was not hard to put yourself in the shoes of resettled refugee families.

“Imagine you are sitting there, and your children can’t study, and they’re getting angry and depressed, and you’re helpless and need to depend on the generosity of others.

“People might think contributing is hard. We’ve now lowered the barriers.

“If they have a hard time picturing it, look at the people queuing on the tarmac in Kabul. The lucky ones are here now, sitting in quarantine with nothing. So, yes, give us your old technology and make a contribution.”

The Humanitarian Settlement Program, funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs* and delivered by Settlement Services International, has provided Ms Al-Natrawee and Ms Noaman with wrap-around support services.

*Go to https://homeaffairs.gov.au/ for more information.

While every woman and girl is at risk of facing gender-based violence, the experiences and challenges of women are not uniform. Intersectional factors, including visa-status, cultural background, and disability, can layer and increase their risk of harm.

The need to consider intersectional risk factors and ensure access to specialised services at all stages of our response was the key message SSI promoted at the National Summit on Women’s Safety, held earlier this month.

Astrid Perry OAM, Head of Women Equity and DFV, contributed to roundtables and the summit, alongside organisations such as the Harmony Alliance, to ensure migrant and refugee women are kept front of mind in the development of our next national plan.

Astrid’s message to the Summit was simple – to have any success in reducing DFV in Australia, we must imbed into our national plan specialised multicultural and services, free access to interpreters, and emergency support for women on temporary visas.

A recent study by Harmony Alliance and Monash University found one in three women from migrant and refugee backgrounds have experienced domestic violence in the past 12 months, with women living on temporary visas at even greater risk.

As for First Nations women and women living with disability, structural and societal systems can impound the psychological, financial, and physical impact of DFV for women from migrant backgrounds.

Compounding and contributing to the cumulative risk for culturally diverse victims are racist beliefs, cultural barriers, immigration pathways, visa status, language barriers, multi-perpetrator violence, and a limited understanding of a poorly equipped and complex service system.

The effect of these factors is illustrated in the experience of Lillian, a migrant woman who experienced abuse at the hands of her Australian partner. Cultural isolation and visa issues contributed to the impact of her partner’s coercive control, while her language difficulties prevented her from being heard by responders, reinforcing the power of her abuser.

A specialist lens and resource allocation, including nationwide access to interpreters and greater training for first responders, would go a long way in ensuring equity in access to adequate support for women like Lillian.

The SSI Group has experience in delivering specialised DFV services in New South Wales and Queensland. Through this we have seen the immense value of tailored programs that take into consideration the unique experiences and challenges of newcomers.

We have partnered with Relationships NSW to deliver an in-culture and in-language men’s behaviour change program, Building Stronger Families, and deliver the 99 Steps program in Queensland.

This year we also began delivering Supporting U, a project that equips women leaders from diverse backgrounds with the skills and support they need to be social responders to DFV within their communities.

Over the past year these programs have supported almost 300 women, men, families, and their communities to prevent, address, and reduce DFV.

While these programs are impactful and immensely valuable, a coordinated nationwide response is needed to create greater change.

With almost 50 per cent of the Australian population born overseas, or having a parent that was born overseas, it is not adequate to consider the needs and experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse people as an afterthought or add on.

To ensure all Australians are supported to live a life free from DFV, our new National Plan must meaningfully address the experiences migrant and refugee women across all stages of our approach, including prevention, intervention, response, and recovery.

Zhen Hua Lin (L) running in the 2017 City2Surf with Achilles Australia volunteer Brian O’Dea (R)

Within three weeks Lin went from living an ordinary and active life to living in a nursing home — an experience that took an enormous toll on his physical and mental health.

It has been a long and at times arduous journey but, with the support of Settlement Services International (SSI) and bi-lingual staff member Li Hua Chu, Lin has learned how to live life to its fullest again. He is now working towards starting his own massage business and has discovered a passion for running.

Coming to terms with this new way of living when first arriving in Australia was challenging and distressing. Lin also faced the added barrier of being a non-English speaker, which made it difficult to find support.

“I felt extremely devastated,” said Lin. “At the time, I wasn’t sure what to do, because it was such a shock. It was a very difficult time for me.”

In May 2016 Lin was referred to SSI, where he connected with Li Hua Chu, who now works as an Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Consultant for the Local Area Coordination (LAC) program. Li was able to help Lin access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and find the support he needs.

“When Lin received his first NDIS plan, he found it difficult to communicate his needs due to his language barriers and lack of personal support,” said Li.

“He knew very little about the NDIS and had difficulty explaining his goals and needs in English. As a result, Lin received little support through his plan and could not afford to pay for support workers.”

Before his first review meeting, Li helped Lin understand the complexities of the scheme, translating information that was previously only accessible in English. She accompanied Lin to his first review meeting as his supporter and advocate to help explain his situation and needs.

“After that review meeting, Lin’s plan was updated, which gave him the support he needed,” said Li.

Lin’s current NDIS plan enables him to employ support workers to assist with domestic tasks, participate in the community, and afford new assistive technology such as a customised mobile phone, microwave, and digital translator.

Li said many culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) participants often had their needs overlooked or not properly addressed due to the lack of in-language resources and assistance available.

Since becoming a Local Area Coordinator in 2020, SSI has continued to provide tailored assistance, resources and information to people with disability from CALD backgrounds, something which Lin has benefitted from greatly.

“Lin has attended many of our in-language community information sessions and has built a good understanding of how the system works. He has also met lots of new people,” said Li.

After spending three years confined to his apartment, Lin is thrilled to be out in the community socialising and rediscovering his interests and passions.

“SSI has supported me in so many ways. They helped me find a group to continue running for fitness and encouraged me to attend community activities. This has given me the opportunity to connect with others and share my experiences,” he said.

With his newfound self-confidence and understanding of the NDIS, Lin is now thriving and enjoys being able to give back to the community and help others.

“Through the knowledge I gained from SSI, I have been able to assist other Chinese-speaking people with a disability to help get them the support they need,” said Lin.

“I want to share all that I have learned about the NDIS and help others who may not know much about where to get help from. I love to be able to help people.”

Lin is now able to refocus on his long-term goal of starting a massage business — a dream that is one step closer to being realised thanks to support from SSI’s IgniteAbility Small Business Start-ups. He hopes to continue building his business once lockdown restrictions are eased.

“I would like to continue this once the pandemic is over. I want to be employed and have regular work. It’s important for me to keep busy and contribute to society meaningfully,” he said.

Find out more about Li and Lin and how SSI Local Area Coordinators can help you to connect with your community and access the NDIS in the video below

While this year has brought many new challenges, Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS) initiated the awards during National Child Protection Week (5-11 September) to recognise the many wonderful examples of innovation and adaptability across the child protection sector.

Organisations were encouraged to apply showing how they are including child safety in their day to day practice, for example, resource development, programming ideas, advertising campaigns, staff development or child-focused policy reviews.

The booklet is designed to complement life story work that is already being undertaken by children and young people in foster care. Life story work is an essential practice across the sector. It supports children and young people in care to have a meaningful understanding of their story to help them develop a strong sense of self, family, culture, community and their place in the world. The pandemic is a significant event in all of our lives and offers an opportunity for those in the sector to elevate their approach to life story work.

The booklet includes a variety of activities and prompts to help children make sense of this extraordinary time. Different versions of the story for children of a variety of cultures and faiths are also available.

The CAPS team felt that this project stood out for the crucial need that it addressed, its creativity, and the positive impact it has had and will continue to have for vulnerable children during the ongoing pandemic. They felt that this booklet could be beneficial for multicultural children everywhere.

Congratulations to the Multicultural Child and Family Program on this achievement!

 As an Employment Facilitator for the Australian Government-funded initiative, Joudy’s role is to coordinate work opportunities between employers and employment service providers to boost economic recovery in regions hardest hit by COVID.

“Successfully placing people at Eilbeck Cranes was a combination of engaging with employment services providers, grass roots organisations, and Indigenous organisations.

“This is what the Local Jobs Program is all about – collaborating with people on the ground and working with employment service providers and organisations to make connections so we can see better employment outcomes for communities and start to place local people in local jobs,” Joudy said.

Industries hardest hit by COVID have suffered enormously; many people who have been left without work are looking for options to upskill or pivot on their previous career choices.

Joudy says the manufacturing industry, alongside other industries with projected growth, is a key opportunity area for the Sydney South West region.

“Part of the challenge specific to the Sydney South West region is skills gaps in high-value sectors including construction, advanced manufacturing, scientific and technical services, health care and tertiary education.

“The Sydney South West job plan has a specific focus on creating opportunities for recently displaced workers with transferable skills to transition into these areas of employment growth, or self-employment,” she said.

The Sydney South West plan also has a key focus on meeting local employers’ workforce diversity needs and ensuring the facilitation of pathways for migrants and refugee job seekers in the employment region.

“Given my background with Settlement Services International (SSI) and our large connection of networks and contacts in this space, it is a priority for me to support all members of our diverse community into relevant training and local jobs.”

The roles at Eilbeck Cranes are just the start, with the company currently recruiting for first year electrical apprentices.

Mareece Edwards, HR Manager for Eilbeck Cranes, said the relationship with the Local Jobs Program has proven to be successful so far.

“The Local Jobs Program has assisted with our general labouring requirements, which was handled in an efficient, reliable, professional, and friendly way.

It’s great to be part of the Local Jobs Program supporting Australia’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”

Joudy says the Local Jobs Program – which is being rolled out nationally across 51 regions – will be critical in continuing to lift employment rates in COVID-hit regions. The government is investing $213.5 million to extend and expand the local Jobs Program to all 51 Employment Regions across Australia.

The collaboration of this program with key organisations on the ground is the best path forward to achieve great outcomes for the community.

“As the Employment Facilitator for the Local Jobs Program, with the support of the Commonwealth government, I play my part in supporting and boosting economic recovery in regions that need it most.”

If you are an employer or employment service provider in the Sydney South West region and you are interested in learning more about how the Local Jobs Program can support you, you can link in with Employment Facilitator Joudy Lazkany via the below details.

Joudy Lazkany
Employment Facilitator – Sydney South West Region
M: 0431 170 463
E: Joudy.lazkany@localjobsprogram.org.au
LinkedIn

Yasameen Al-Natrawee (R) fled Iraq with her seven-year-old daughter, Linda (L).

The former chemical engineer was granted a visa to Australia with her seven-year-old daughter, Linda, in 2019. 

The Humanitarian Settlement Program, funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs* and delivered by Settlement Services International, has provided Ms Al-Natrawee with wrap-around support services since she arrived.

Since moving to Australia, Ms Al-Natrawee has had a series of jobs, including delivery courier services, office administration, and private childcare. 

A local resident to Fairfield in Sydney’s west, Ms Al-Natrawee, recently spoke to ABC News about how she has been severely impacted by the current lockdown, including losing work. 

“Before the lockdown, I was taking care of children, and some of the homes I visited were in Fairfield and Liverpool.”

“But because of lockdown, I can’t work in another person’s house.”

As a single mother from a refugee background, Ms Al-Natrawee’s situation presents unique challenges that have hard financial implications, including not being able to ask anyone to take care of her daughter while she goes to work.

“The lockdown makes it hard to pay the bills, you know, the electricity, the internet, and the rent, you know, all these things.

“My mother lives nearby, and she could help me, but because she’s in a different household, I can’t even ask her to care for my daughter.”

Homeschooling is another challenge as it’s hard to keep her young daughter motivated when she becomes restless indoors.

“My daughter doesn’t understand why we can’t go shopping and play for longer times outside.

“It’s hard for a little girl to be inside all day, every day, only with her mother and no other children.”

Many refugee families attempting to homeschool during lockdown are finding it particularly difficult without access to suitable technology. 

Technology barriers are commonplace, and, as in Ms Al-Natrawee’s case, her mobile phone is the only device with internet access at home, presenting challenges with all schooling being driven online. 

“It is hard to teach my daughter on a small screen, and some documents, PDFs, don’t open properly.”

Despite already being fully vaccinated, Ms Al-Natrawee has her groceries delivered to her home to mitigate the risks of community transmission of the virus.

“I do all my shopping online and delivery, and I already got my vaccine in Olympic Park.  

“I am fully vaccinated and follow all restrictions.”

Ms Al-Natrawee’s siblings work in health care. Her brother works in reception at a hospital in Sydney, often tasked with translating information into Arabic from English. Her sister is a doctor. 

“Everyone in my (extended) family is fully vaccinated, and we are all trying to get the message out there in our community about the importance of getting vaccinated.”

*Go to https://homeaffairs.gov.au/ for more information.

Vaccination rates are rising, and Australians of all ages and backgrounds are eager to do their part in protecting themselves and their communities by getting a COVID-19 jab.

As vaccination rates continue to increase and we work towards the reduction of restrictions, it is critical that diverse, vulnerable communities are not left behind in gaining timely access to vaccine protection.

SSI has joined many organisations in endorsing the Australian Council for Social Service’s (ACOSS) call for urgent action from all levels of government to ensure high-risk groups are not left behind in the vaccination rollout.

As part of our advocacy and government relations engagement, members of SSI’s Executive team and I are meeting with local and state MPs and attending community forums regularly to discuss the impact of the virus, and the vaccine rollout. We are also working with ACOSS to provide insights on the challenges faced by our communities as part of Lt. General Frewen’s Operation COVID Shield Taskforce.

As part of this, we are recommending specific vaccination targets for high-risk groups and that population and location specific data be released to the public weekly at a minimum.

Some of the groups that must be kept front of mind during the vaccine rollout are individuals from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds, children in care, people with a disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Earlier this month, SSI conducted a survey of more than 1,000 of our clients, mostly from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds living in the Greater Sydney to understand the impact of COVID-19.

Of those surveyed, 86 per cent live in a hotspot, or Local Government Area (LGA) of concern, such as Fairfield and Liverpool.

Our survey identified that just 16 per cent of our clients have received one or two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, leaving 84 per cent unprotected against the virus.

Of those vaccinated, 21 per cent received their shots through our pop-up vaccination clinic at SSI’s Paramatta office. This clinic will recommence the vaccination of people living on temporary visas in the coming weeks.

Of unvaccinated individuals, 70 per cent said they are eager and plan to get vaccinated.

Much like the wider Australian population, the main barriers to vaccination this group include long wait times for vaccine appointments and a preference for a different vaccine than the one widely available.

Our survey results highlight that people who have experienced forced migration have similar, if not higher, levels of interest in receiving the vaccine as the Australian population.

These results also reiterate the vital importance for the government to work with community intermediaries, like SSI, to assist in the development and implementation of a vaccination strategy. Confusion about vaccine eligibility and a lack of in-language support at this stage of the rollout is a serious concern as it places the health and wellness of our communities at risk.

As outlined in the ACOSS ‘Community Sector Vaccination Principles’, non-for-profit and charity sectors are crucial arms of the health and welfare system, with highly developed service infrastructure, networks, and reach through pre-existing trusted relationships.

I am confident that the way to increase vaccination rates amongst vulnerable and hard to reach groups, as well as the wider Australian population, is by leveraging the trust and assets this sector brings to our communities.

Although necessary for the health of our country, lockdowns, like in Greater Sydney, have wide-reaching and severe impacts.

To get through this and ensure the best outcome, we must focus on the things we can control, and the ways we can positively influence the financial, physical, and emotional health of our people.

The deeply disturbing anti-lockdown protest last Saturday, was simply not the right approach. Instead to me, this act has reiterated the vital importance of distributing clear and accessible community health messages and ensuring financial support for our most vulnerable as we continue to fight this outbreak.

Unfortunately, despite strong community compliance with COVID-19 protocols, some of our states most culturally diverse Local Government Areas (LGAs) have been hardest hit by the latest outbreak.

Consequently, I have been working in collaboration with many NSW Settlement Partnership (NSP) and consortium members to secure a broadening of support offered.

As part of this, I recently joined Elfa Moraitakis, CEO, SydWest Multicultural Service and Dr Cassandra Goldie, ACOSS CEO, in calling on the government to remove the bar on disaster payments for those on social security. We also called for the government to support ACOSS’s request to increase social security benefits to $475 per week and reconsider a more collaborative approach to supporting our western-Sydney communities.

Despite the need for additional supports, I warmly welcome the $6 million dollar emergency support package for people seeking asylum that was announced by the NSW government last week and congratulate everyone involved in advocating for this funding.

This package will be key in ensuring that specialist migrant and settlement providers can continue addressing the urgent needs of vulnerable temporary visa holders who are experiencing great hardship.

In addition to the need of fiscal support, special attention needs to be paid to what information is shared with the public and how it is shared, particularly for linguistically diverse communities.

We know that community leaders are a vital asset and ambassadors for peer-to-peer communication that keeps newcomers and other diverse communities safe.

I have reached out to relevant government and civic leadership to share some of the SSI Group’s community insights, feedback, and suggestions on future COVID-19 messaging.

This has involved joining hundreds of Western Sydney community leaders to share our concerns regarding the evolving situation with Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke MP and Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.

Earlier in the month Western Sydney MRC, CORE CS, Metro Assist, and SSI also met with Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian MP and several NSW Health and NSW Police representatives at the Southwest Sydney Multicultural Leaders Forum.

I would like to commend our frontline staff, NSP member organisations, and the wider multicultural and community services sector for all their efforts to support our communities at the present, and as we look ahead to the future.

Please don’t forget to visit our multicultural focused COVID-19 information portal to read plain, easy-to-understand information on COVID-19, vaccinations and the various testing, tracing, and compliance protocols.

You can visit the site here.

Violet

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Adam driving his new car.

With the support of SSI’s Local Area Coordination Services (LAC) and his driving instructor, Adam has now gained his licence and purchased a modified car of his own.

Obtaining his driver’s licence has already given Adam newfound freedom and independence.

He is now able to access grocery essentials easily, has joined more social activities, and is able to independently visit his friends for the first time. Adam is also hopeful that having a driver’s licence will open new doors to mainstream employment.

It has been a long and challenging journey, but Adam’s determination and positive attitude has been key to reaching this important milestone.

In late 2015, Adam started receiving support from the National Disability Insurance Agency through the LAC program to assist him in accessing specialised driving lessons.

SSI’s Local Area Coordinators helped Adam to access his driving lessons and other forms of transport.

To Adam, gaining his licence was an opportunity to expand his independence and increase his chances of gaining employment.

Adam originally attempted to get his driver’s licence when he was 21 but was disheartened when his first instructor told him that even with car modification, he would never be able to drive.

“As a person, I don’t like being told what I am or am not capable of and what I can do —because only I know that,” said Adam.

“Getting people to give me a fair go is one of my biggest challenges in life.”

Peter Karkoulas, Adam’s second driving instructor and owner of Driver Heal, was one of the people who have truly given Adam a fair go.

For the past six years, Peter has worked with Adam to gain the skills, confidence and practice he needs to drive a modified car.

“It has been a long process, but he has now got his license and is driving, and it is brilliant,” Peter said.

Adam now has his own car with all the modifications, such as specialized hand controls, he needs to drive.

With his licence and new car ready, Adam is now planning on moving out of his family home, where he lives with his mother and siblings, and move up to the Central Coast to live independently.

Adam’s Local AreaCoordinator, Phonesavanh Souvanthong, is excited that he has got his licence and is now eager to support him in achieving his next goal of living independently.

“With Adam’s long-term goal now obtained, we are focused on supporting him to achieve other major milestones, including returning to mainstream employment and living independently,” she said.

Adam hopes his story can inspire others as an example of the power of perseverance in achieving your goals.

“I want everyone to know that you should never give up on your goals or dreams no matter how long it takes. Never say never, try your best and never let anyone stop you,” he said.