How One 21-Year-Old is Championing Change for Hazara Refugees

It’s fair to say most 21-year-olds focus on fun – getting out there and enjoying new adventures, whether it’s a spontaneous travel trip or an unplanned catch-up with friends that turns into an all-nighter.

By that standard, Mohammad Azeem Ibrahimi is not your average 21-year-old.

While he’s certainly a fun guy, Mohammad is focused on family and community, using his expertise and deep understanding of Hazara refugees to help them settle into their new lives in Australia. For this commitment, he recently won the highly respected Volunteer of the Year 2024 award at the Multicultural Youth Awards in Melbourne.

From Kabul to Melbourne

Mohammad is currently Global Talent Pathway’s Community Outreach Specialist, a vital link between our organization and our Hazara refugee clients.

He grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, a country ravaged by the rule of the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group that first gained power in 1996. Though ousted by the US-led coalition in 2001, they returned to power in 2021, profoundly impacting living conditions and the economy, particularly as their restrictive policies forbid most women from working.

It was against this backdrop that Mohammad grew up in a large family of 14, including sisters, brothers, and their partners. Having graduated high school early at 16 (yes, he definitely has some smarts!), he set to work as what he describes as an “independent young person.”

“I started my career as an administrative assistant at Liberty Book Club, a program run by UNICEF Afghanistan, giving children and adults the opportunity to learn to read books. I organized events and looked after the children's section,” he explains.

“I worked with kids aged seven to 14, guiding them around the library, showing them different books, and sharing how to start their reading journey. I focused on introducing them to education, trying to encourage them to study rather than spending all day in the streets and wasting their time.”

During his time there, he also oversaw staff operations and provided management reports about what was and wasn’t working.

Outside of his work at the library, he volunteered at several small community service organizations and also learned the tailoring trade.

“I learned how to tailor in six months, which was quite a short time. It took most people around three years to do that,” he laughs.

This achievement came down to his tenacity and commitment to self-development.

“When I’m learning new things, I try hard to grasp it and get it right the first time. And I’m always keen to learn new things, whether it’s education or work.”

This trait proved invaluable as he embarked on his journey to a new life in Australia as a refugee.

No Choice but to Leave

In 2021, one of Mohammad’s sisters was working for the Australian embassy in Kabul.

“As soon as the Taliban took over, they began threatening people who worked with foreign embassies. They said they would either take them to jail or kill them, even targeting their family members,” he explains.

“I had done some work through the Australian embassy and had certificates with my name on them. It was a very scary time.”

Mohammad’s entire family, affectionately known as the ‘family of 14,’ had no choice but to seek refuge elsewhere. At the time, he was just 18 years old.

“We applied for visas in other countries like America, Canada, and Germany, and while they granted them, they would only take five of us. Thankfully, Australia accepted us all, and we traveled here.”

The family arrived in September 2021, during the last month of Melbourne’s lockdown.

“We were based on Swanson Street and would walk to a nearby park for fresh air and exercise. It was so strange with nobody around and all the shops closed. I even wondered if the Australian government accepted us because all their people had passed away from COVID-19 and they needed to refill their country!” he says with a chuckle.

As the city opened up, the real process of settling into a new life began, though it was challenging.

“The whole system was completely new, and I didn’t know the language. It was really hard to communicate.”

But the family received support from a community organization with mentors to help them navigate their new world. Mohammad expressed a desire to learn English, which he pursued through a TAFE course, attending classes in the mornings and working with a local company producing picture frames in the afternoons.

Today, Mohammad speaks English fluently, a skill he’s proud of.

Continuing His Community Work

A visit to a Global Talent Pathway (GTP) visa information session marked a turning point.

“I went to get more information about the CSP visa to see how we could bring other family members here. I met the GTP manager, and after a 10-minute conversation, I gave him my contact details and left,” he recalls.

“A week later, I got a text from him. He said, ‘Mohammad, when I met you the other day, I really liked your character. Are you available to work with us?’ It was unexpected since we’d only talked for 10 minutes!”

Since then, Mohammad has been GTP’s Community Outreach Specialist, supporting Hazara clients and traveling with the GTP team to visit them.

Beyond GTP, Mohammad serves as a youth advisor at the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence, volunteers for several community organizations run by Hume City Council, is pursuing a Community Services diploma, and is a keen photographer. Above all, he is the caregiver for his parents.

“My sister is studying in America, so I care for my parents. They don’t speak English, and they have many health issues, so I manage medical appointments and hospital visits. I’m committed to supporting my family; if I can support them, I can support others in the community.”

A Well-Deserved Accolade

Recently, Mohammad was nominated for Volunteer of the Year 2024 at the Multicultural Youth Awards for his community service.

“I got a call saying I was a finalist. At the award ceremony, I couldn’t find my name in the booklet’s finalist section. I thought I wasn’t in the right place! But then my friend saw my name on the winner list and said, ‘You’re the winner!’ My first thought was, ‘How come?’” he laughs.

“It was really awesome and made me so happy, especially as I haven’t been in Australia long. I’m proud of the volunteering work I’ve done, and it’s amazing to be acknowledged like this.”

For Mohammad, community work is the ideal way to give back. “I faced so many challenges when I arrived here. I want to help other newly arrived young people and their families avoid those same challenges.”

Looking to the Future

In five years, Mohammad envisions “completing my studies, growing myself more, connecting with the community, and creating opportunities for migrants and refugees.”

As advice for newly arrived young migrants, he says, “Learn the language first, then focus on education. If you just work, work, work, it becomes your whole life, but education builds a better future.”

We at Global Talent Pathway are grateful to have Mohammad on our team. His support for refugees navigating the visa application and resettlement process, particularly for the persecuted Hazara community, is invaluable. Mohammad embodies compassion and resilience, both central to our mission.