His story was one of many stories of success celebrated during Refugee Week June 18-24.
Mohammad was granted a Humanitarian Refugee Visa in 2019 as a 26-year-old after being persecuted for questioning the country’s traditional beliefs in several magazine articles.
“I was just too curious about the truth and had difficulty accepting there was no freedom of speech,” he said.
“So I decided to apply to come to Australia as a refugee and I am so pleased I did.”
He found work here as a forklift driver and studied English at TAFE for six months which enabled him to apply to university and he is now studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Philosophy and Literature.
He’s also received a MySydney scholarship for students from low socioeconomic areas, which provides both financial and non financial support.
“I am very grateful for the job that I found after arriving but it didn’t satisfy my intellect and the educational qualifications I received in Afghanistan aren’t worth anything here,” he said.
“However, I’m really enjoying my university studies and hope one day to be a researcher or academic.”
Mohammad still has a few sleepless nights, though, worried about his family of eight members illegally living in Iran and waiting for approval of their Humanitarian Visa applications to Australia.
“Then I will be truly happy, I am so worried about my younger siblings and their futures as they have no access to education at the moment,” he said.
“I know they will be good citizens for this country.”
