Afghan orphans celebrate first Australia Day in Sydney

The orphaned children from Afghanistan play and sing in the cubby house in the yard of their new home in Sydney’s north-west.

The woman, who fought to bring them to Australia and who they affectionately call “mother”, sits close by, reflecting on their new life together. 

“They come out of the house and there is no bomb. There is security, safety, health,” Mahbooba Rawi said.

“The life for the children who are here, it’s beautiful. They just wear [their] uniform and go to school.”

Yesterday, they celebrated their first Australia Day in Marsfield and Denistone, where they were joined by other refugees from around the world.

Laughter and music filled the air. Some children sat quietly as they ate a traditional Afghan feast, while others played games in the sun.

But only four months ago, the lives of these 10 orphans from Afghanistan was far from idyllic.

The children were being cared for at an orphanage founded by Ms Rawi’s charity, Mahbooba’s Promise.

As the Taliban offensive escalated in Afghanistan last September, the children were brought to Australia in a daring evacuation mission.

Only 17 people, including the 10 orphans, were approved for Australian visas at the time, according to Ms Rawi.

“It was 200 people on our application and then these 17 got very lucky and settled very, very well,” she said.

“And hopefully in the future, they’ll contribute to the Australian community. But the rest of them in Afghanistan … we worry about them.”

Latifa, an employee of Mahbooba’s Promise, held the children tight as they left Afghanistan and embarked on their journey to Australia.

While they made it out safely, the 27-year-old remembered those left behind and pledged to never stop fighting to bring them to Australia.

“The other children who are still in Afghanistan who were in the school with us, they are in danger and we wish that they could come to Australia,” Latifa said.

While Ms Rawi is immersing the children in Australian life, she is also keeping their Afghan culture alive.

“This holiday season we took them to Palm Beach, Bell Beach,” she said.

“We went to national parks so they could learn to swim, so they learned some Aussie way of life, as well as sitting on the floor on an Afghan Persian rug.”

Latifa said embracing her new life in Australia was easy with strong community support.

“I have a very good feeling about Australia Day,” she said. 

“Like the people who are Australian and celebrate, I have a love for this day because Australia has given me a better life away from war and away from every difficulty.”