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Sadeqa Sarvari is an occupational therapy graduate who has a goal of helping make the world a better place for everyone.

“My parents fled the war in Afghanistan and sacrificed their families, dreams and aspirations just so me and my four brothers could grow up in a safe environment,” she said.

International Migrants Day, which takes place annually on 18 December, is always a welcome reminder for Sadeqa to reflect on the opportunities she has gained living here.

“In Afghanistan, being a young female can mean that your voice and abilities are often overlooked, and being opinionated is frowned upon.

“I get told that advocating for what is right is not a women’s job. Fortunately, mindsets are changing but we still have a long way to go.”

However, like many migrants, Sadeqa sometimes feels out of place: “There are times when I feel like I’m too Afghan for Australia and too much of an Aussie for Afghanistan — it’s like I don’t fit into either group.”

Therefore, Sadeqa is keen to use her voice to represent her fellow young Muslim and Afghan females around the globe, especially within Australian communities.

One of Sadeqa’s favourite memories in Australia is having the opportunity to participate in the She Runs Inaugural Fellowship campaign school. She Runs is a not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting women’s political, economic and civic participation.

“Politics is something that I didn’t think of as a career for me to pursue, but when I look at our white, majority male representation government that we currently have I truly want to change that narrative to a more inclusive government that also represents females, and people of all walks of life and faiths.

“I live in hope to see this change and help make it happen.”  

Did you know?  While many individuals migrate out of choice, many others migrate out of necessity. The number of globally forcibly displaced people topped 70 million at the end of 2018. This number includes almost 26 million refugees, 3.5 million asylum seekers, and over 41 million internally displaced persons.

(source: United Nations)

The United Nations (UN) International Migrants Day is held annually on 18 December to recognise the efforts, contributions and rights of migrants worldwide.