By CASEY NEILL
AZIZ Ahmadi wants to uphold the law and order he values so much in his new home.
The Afghanistan-born 18-year-old is completing VCAL Year 12 and Certificate III in Business at Dandenong’s Chisholm TAFE.
He would like to do a Certificate IV in Justice and has a career in the police force in his sights.
“In this country, they’re very good with their laws. Everyone is obeying the rules. They have very good rules,” he said.
“It’s not like Afghanistan or Pakistan – they take bribes.
“I like the rules and regulation and the laws here.”
Aziz and his family fled Afghanistan for Pakistan when he was two years old.
“In 2012, my father told me to go from Pakistan because there was not a good situation,” he said.
He left the war-ravaged region for Thailand, then Indonesia.
“I was there months in Indonesia and then I talked to a people smuggler and I came to Australia,” he said.
He spent up to 10 hours crouching in a truck filled with 30 other people just to reach the boat that would take him to his new life.
They landed on Christmas Island, where he spent a few weeks before being transferred to Perth Immigration Detention Centre.
“I was there about two and a half months. Then we were transferred to Melbourne,” he said.
“We were living in Sunshine. We were living with guardians.”
Aziz was granted a Permanent Residency Visa and transferred to the Centre For Multicultural Youth (CMY) in Dandenong.
“We were with them six or seven months and then the government stopped their funding,” he said.
“We went to another organisation named Life Without Barriers.
“When we were with CMY we had lots of facilities. We were only paying $300 for the rent of the house.
“We don’t pay for the bills, they were paying our school fees and they were paying for our mykis …
“When the government stopped funding them we found it hard.”
He moved to Doveton last December with other students, and enjoys having Dandenong’s Afghan Bazaar on his doorstep.
“If you are new in Australia it’s really hard to settle in because we don’t know how to use the transport or we don’t know how to go and shop,” he said.
His uncle also made the voyage from Pakistan to Australia, and lives in Cranbourne North.
“We share our stories and we share what’s going on in the home country,” he said.
Aziz misses his parents.
“But they are really happy that I’m here,” he said.
“I don’t want to go back. I want to settle here.”
He received a Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation scholarship so he could continue his studies.
“I didn’t have $1000 to pay fees,” he said.
“I’m very thankful that they gave me such an opportunity.”
He’s now studying five days a week and looking for part-time work.
The not-for-profit Caroline Chisholm Education Foundation awarded its first scholarships in 2007.
Foundation executive officer Kate Hulusi said the aim was to help disadvantaged students enter vocational education and graduate with a trade or skill.
The foundation relies solely on donations and all funds raised are distributed to students.
“Anyone can be in a situation they didn’t plan to be,” Ms Hulusi said.
“It doesn’t mean they’re not academically gifted.
“Some have gone on to win state and federal awards.”
The scholarships can cover course fees, material fees, travel costs or all three and provide students with a pathway. Donations to the foundation are tax deductible.
