{"id":41304,"date":"2020-08-31T14:02:59","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T04:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/?p=41304"},"modified":"2020-09-08T11:56:46","modified_gmt":"2020-09-08T01:56:46","slug":"how-an-asylum-seeker-stayed-positive-when-facing-his-lifes-hardest-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/news\/how-an-asylum-seeker-stayed-positive-when-facing-his-lifes-hardest-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"How An Asylum Seeker Stayed Positive When Facing His Life\u2019s Hardest Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Content Warning: this episode and article contains discussions of self-harm and suicide. If this raises any issues for you please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In episode six of Invisible Heroes<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Madeleine West interviews Abdul Razzaq, a husband, a cook, a storyteller, a sportsman and an asylum seeker. When Abdul and his wife Lubna arrived to Australian shores 11 years ago, Lubna was in the midst of a terrifying journey with breast cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They fled persecution in Pakistan, faced inconceivable obstacles and personal tragedy in their efforts to become Australian citizens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really hard experience but we\u2019re still staying positive and trying to stay in our life as a victor,\u201d Abdul tells Madeleine.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

With no home, income, means to support themselves or access to medical care, even in the face of breast cancer, Abdul and Lubna have clung to a philosophy of extreme positivity, striving not only to not give up, but give back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The people at the asylum seeker resource centre<\/a> helped them access care and through his wife\u2019s recovery Abdul found himself looking for ways to give back to other people who had fallen through the cracks where he created his motto of: \u201cDon\u2019t give up, give back.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When he arrived at the resource centre, a place he called his \u201chome\u201d, they helped him look after his wife who had \u201cgiven up on life\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I told them my wife, \u2018she is giving up on life and I don’t know what to do because I don’t have Medicare\u2019, they suddenly came and helped me and got my wife to the hospital and they explained each and everything,\u201d Abdul proudly told Madeleine. <\/em><\/p>

\u201cThey wrote letters and they gave me lots of information and I thought, \u2018Yeah, I\u2019m not alone. We are not alone here.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

They also helped Abdul with rent assistance, foodbank and more, inspiring Abdul to give back and start volunteering at ASRC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abdul says that since his wife started following this philosophy of \u201cdon\u2019t give up, give back\u201d she is \u201cthriving\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince my wife followed this philosophy of \u2018don’t give up, give back\u2019 we both went from victim to victor and she’s a thriving woman now.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Still waiting for residency, Abdul created the All Nations Cricke<\/a>t cup which creates communities and connections for disenfranchised societies, while working the equivalent of a 9-5 job doing volunteer work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is my message to other asylums and refugees as well, don’t stay home, don’t stay as a victim. We can still do a lot, we can make lots of change, keep your mindset positive, mindset is very, very important. <\/em><\/p>

\u201cIf you want to be happy forever and keep your heart young forever, honestly, then start helping others.\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n