"I couldn't just stand there and watch on the news, I felt I wanted to be part of this revolution."
Forty two-year-old Nada Agha, from Bankstown in Sydney's west, touched down in Lebanon's capital, Beirut on Saturday.
"When you see the revolution has started, when you are not in your country, you see the news, I was very stressed and worried about my country and I thought it's a big chance for us because we need change," she told SBS News.
Ms Agha has returned to her motherland to join the unprecedented wave of protests that have paralysed cities across the country.
She's taken two-weeks leave from work to, as she puts it, "fight for freedom".
"Really, it's amazing. To be part of it, it's amazing. I'm not sleeping," she said.
"I've been away for nine years, but you know walking the streets, going to these protests I feel very happy, but at the same time sad. But there is hope."
Australians join revolution
Ms Agha is one of a string Australians who have travelled to Lebanon in support of the movement.
Since the protests first broke out on 17 October, the Lebanese community in Australia have staged a series of rallies.
But some felt the need to take it a step further.
Dania Hawat is one of the organisers of the Sydney movement.
"After the Martin Place protest there was a lady who added me on Facebook and she was sharing all of these photos of Martin Place and then I noticed that the next day, she started sharing pictures from Lebanon," she told SBS News.
"I was shocked to hear that - I know a lot of my friends from Lebanon who live in Dubai, they're going to Lebanon to support [the protests].
"But for people here to go back to Lebanon, considering the distance and the time it takes, the cost of the ticket, it was a bit shocking. But I was proud of it. People really want to help.
"And after that, I found out a lot of other people have done that as well."
Ms Hawat moved to Australia from Lebanon in 2015. She was one of the organisers of the 2015 protests in Beirut.
She says it's inspiring to know people in Australia are willing to go to great lengths to fight for their homeland.
"It takes a lot to just disconnect yourself from all of the responsibilities and priorities you have here for two or three weeks," she said.
Protests to continue
Ms Agha immigrated to Australia in 2011.
"You know, I love Australia so much. We immigrated to Australia because there is no work, there is no freedom, you can't do anything, you can't have your say," she said.
"There is no work, there is nothing here and politicians are becoming very wealthy.
"We are fighting for the people, we are fighting for freedom, we are fighting against corruption."
A fight she expects to continue, despite Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's resignation.
Though it's seen by some as a victory for the uprising, Ms Agha said she doesn't expect the momentum to wane.
"It’s the beginning. It’s not enough for him to resign," she said.
Jihad Hamdan, another organiser of the Sydney rallies, told SBS News the energy in Australia remains strong, and another event is being planned for Sunday.
"The resignation of Mr Hariri, it makes a bit of difference but we still have the same members of Parliament - they're all related to the same political party," he said.
"What are parents are feeling over there and our family, we want to be with them in this moment."
