Imagine returning from a soccer game one afternoon to find that war had broken out and your neighbourhood was devastated by bombing. Then to find yourself separated from family at the age of thirteen, travelling for months on foot to escape the war, on a journey that took you the distance of here to Carnarvon and saw most of your travelling companions killed.
This is the story of Abdi Aden, who escaped the civil war in Mogadishu, Somalia and embarked on an incredible journey that saw him arrive in Melbourne alone, aged 16. Abdi’s is a story of inspiring resilience, enduring optimism and humour, in spite of having witnessed and suffered the very worst of human behaviour. Our Year 9 and 10 students were enthralled with the story of his journey, from a childhood comparable to their own, through chaos and horror when civil war broke out in his country, to his eventual arrival in Australia. Students gained an insight into the global plight of refugees and a refreshing view on racism and acceptance.
Abdi is in the region as a guest speaker at the Margaret River Readers and Writers Festival, where he will discuss his memoir, 'Shining: The Story of a Lucky Man'. We were very lucky to have him visit the College and offer an insightful perspective on this critical human rights issue - one of the most important discussions of our current social and political environment.
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