Eight years after being forced to flee war-torn Afghanistan and the Taliban, a first-year physiotherapy student has been awarded The University of Queensland’s inaugural Refugee and Humanitarian Scholarship.
Omid Anwary was just 21 years old and living in Takhar Province in northern Afghanistan, where violent clashes between government forces and Taliban fighters were routine.
The young man made the difficult decision to leave his homeland and his family after Taliban rebels threatened his life.
“We had a fuel station with contracts with NGOs working in the province and I was afraid I would be further targeted by the Taliban after several attacks on the premises,” Omid said.
“It was a big decision, but I had to leave – it was for my own good and my family, too.”
Listen to him speaking about his journey to Australia on ABC Radio, http://bitly.ws/eGKn (time stamp: 1:35:20 Omid talking)
