Zaki Haidari came to Australia by boat fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan, with no money, no family, with very limited English, and is now one of the most talented students from Australia.
His father was captured by the Taliban for being one of the best doctors in Afghanistan, a man dedicated to helping his community with the conviction that education can change lives. The Taliban also wanted to recruit Zaki Haidari to join their forces, or be killed - so his mother decided to send him to a place where he could live peacefully and be educated, even if it meant being away from her.
“I was too young to decide, my father was captured by the Taliban and the rebels wanted me to join their forces, so my mother decided to send me to a place like Australia where I could live free, which takes into account my opinions and belieg in education. I am very lucky to be here,” says Zaki Haidari.
After arriving in Australia, Zaki was locked up for about three months in a detention center, but met people who helped him continue his studies and finally got a full scholarship to continue his studies at Martin College.
For his strong leadership and his desire to help young people in Australia, Zaki was awarded the International Student of the Year Award granted by the New South Wales government in the category of Vocational Education and Training. At only 21 years of age, Zaki is showing himself as a mature young man who is able to overcome any obstacle in life. After suffering the arrest of his father, Zaki believes that through good education he can help others.
“In many parts of Afghanistan education is considered a crime”
Regarding his country, Afghanistan, he says that it is very difficult to attend school: “In many parts of Afghanistan, education is considered a crime. The Taliban or the rebels want to kill you if you are a student, but in contrast, Australia is a country that provides many opportunities to study. As a refugee I fought a lot because I had no support to continue my education, but I found good people who supported me and I was awarded a full scholarship to continue my education,” says Zaki Hadari.
“My passion is to help people in need.”
Zaki studied graphic design, but his real passion is to help all the people who really need it. “My passion is to help people; it can be through art, through languages,” says Zaki. The award for International Student of the Year was well deserved because Zaki is one of the international ambassadors students, and through City of Sydney Council, helps students find friends and connect with the local community. He also volunteers and gives aid to refugees in Australia who have difficulty speaking or writing in English.
“Australia is my home, I love it.”
Referring to Australia, Zaki said that the Australian community has given him unconditional support and feels this country is his home. “I love Australia and the people here because they value what I have and what I do.” For all young people who have a dream, Zaki sends a message:
“If you have a dream, if you have a passion, always try to do it. There is always an opportunity for you. If you start doing it, you can do it. When I arrived I had no money to go to school; I suffered a lot, even now I don’t have money for my education, but I tried to find the right people to explain my situation, tell them what I wanted, that I wanted to study,” explains Zaki Haidari.
Zaki wants to follow the footsteps of his father, who helped many people of Afghanistan. With his father, he learned that if someone has an education, they can help people. “You always have something to offer if you have education.”
In Afghanistan is his mother, his siblings, his friends and relatives. “I want peace in Afghanistan and would love to see my family again,” says Zaki.
