Farhan was born in Afghanistan in 1997, a year marked by tragedy. His mother passed away while giving birth to him, and at the age of two, he lost his father, who was killed by the Taliban. With both parents gone, Farhan's uncle took him to Pakistan, raising him as his own child. For years, Farhan believed that his uncle and his uncle’s wife were his biological parents.

Growing up in Pakistan, Farhan excelled in his studies, learning both English and computer skills. In 2010, his uncle made the dangerous journey to Australia by boat, seeking a better life. Two years later, in 2012, Farhan’s uncle began the process of bringing the rest of the family to Australia. The family went to the Australian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, where they underwent a DNA test as part of the visa process.

It was during this test that Farhan’s life took an unexpected turn. The results revealed that he was not biologically related to the family he had always believed was his own. It was then that Farhan learned the painful truth—his father had been his uncle all along. This revelation shattered his world.

From that point on, Farhan remained in Pakistan, living with his aunt. In 2013, when the wave of violence against Hazaras escalated in Pakistan, Farhan had no choice but to flee. His journey took him to Thailand, then Malaysia, and finally to Indonesia in 2014. Smuggled into Indonesia, Farhan registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as an asylum seeker.

For 21 months, Farhan was held in a detention centre in the Indonesian city of Tanjungpinang, where he used his English skills to assist the UNHCR as a translator. In time, his asylum status was changed to that of a refugee, and he was moved to the city of Batam, where he shared a room with another refugee. Farhan spent nearly three years in Batam before being sent back to Tanjungpinang, where he lived from 2018 until 2022.

During these difficult years, Farhan learned Bahasa Indonesia and continued helping the UNHCR with translation work. His uncle in Australia supported him financially, ensuring that Farhan could survive in Indonesia. In 2022, his uncle initiated the process of bringing Farhan to Australia through the Community Support Program (CSP).

In September 2023, after years of hardship and displacement, Farhan finally arrived in Australia.

"Since I arrived in Australia, I feel like I was born again," Farhan says. He has already obtained his driver’s license in Sydney and found work as a house painter. Farhan is deeply grateful for the peace and security he has found after years of turmoil. "I owe a lot to Australia for the peaceful life I have now, after all these years of struggle."

Farhan’s story is one of resilience, courage, and hope—a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity, and to the transformative power of programs like CSP that enable refugees to find peace and opportunity in Australia.