In the back-roads of a south-western Sydney suburb, Sahar Abdullah teaches English to a class of mainly new Iraqi refugees.
Their experience speaks directly to hers as she arrived in Australia seven years ago as a refugee as well.
With the onset of the Iran-Iraq war, Mrs Abdullah escaped from Iraq to embark on a long journey finally arriving in Australia.
This perilous journey included years of waiting for a humanitarian visa in Jordan and Kuwait and several wars separating her from her family and friends.
Mrs Abdullah's story is one of thousands that are honoured during Refugee Week which ends tomorrow.
The annual event coincides with the United Nations' World Refugee Day.
This year's theme designated by the Refugee Council of Australia is 'Restoring Hope'.
Mrs Abdullah's teaching methods at Navitas English College aim to engender a 'spirit of hope' among her students.
“I came as a refugee and I felt they are having a hard time. I went through that time. I really want to help them. I don't want them to go through what I went through.”
As part of the Australian government's commitment to integrate newly arrived migrants and refugees, the educational institution works in partnership with the public and not-for-profit sectors to provide English language classes though the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP).
During her time in Jordan as an Iraqi refugee with only a guest work visa, Mrs Abdullah taught English to her landlord's niece and discovered her passion for connecting with other people through languages.
She says she always wanted to be a teacher even though she started an engineering degree that was abruptly cut short by the Gulf War in 1990.
“To be a teacher is really good because you are dealing with people not paper.”
Leaving Iraq in 2000, Mrs Abdullah travelled via Yemen and Kuwait eventually settling in Jordan -- hoping to come to Australia one day.
“I left Iraq to feel like I am really a human being.”
“It's really hard when you leave your country, your roots, your friends and to start all over again in another country. You are stuck there waiting to come to another country. It's really hard but it's ok” she describes.
According to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship, up to 75 percent of offshore humanitarian visa applications are processed within 12 months.
Yet for Mrs Abdullah, as for many other refugees, this process can take years because of the high number of applications caused by the political instability in Syria and Iraq.
Her parents ended up in Sweden as refugees as well and when they ask her to apply for migration there she replies “I am really happy in Australia. This is my country now.”
Yet, her feelings for her homeland are still strong.
“I miss Iraq from time to time. But, I miss Kuwait more. I had wonderful years there, it is like a European country, the language is Arabic and the region is Muslim.”
Since the 1980s Iraq has undergone a series of economic and political sanctions, successive wars with Iran and Kuwait as well as the most recent occupation by coalition forces in 2003.
These have all resulted in the displacement of nearly one million Iraqis internally.
Mrs Abdullah maintains that despite the hardships faced as a new migrant and the turbulent movement between countries in the Middle East that it was a good experience.
“I found my way. Teachers at Navitas English advised me to be a teacher. I had my dream, I went for it and I achieved it.”
From the reactions and engagement of her students at the college, Mrs Adbullah is certainly living her dream.
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