Mahir Momand

Name: Mahir Momand
Job: CEO Thrive Refugee Enterprise
Age: 36
Arrived from Afghanistan

I’m the CEO of Thrive Refugee Enterprise, an Australian not-for-profit organisation helping refugees and asylum seekers start their own businesses in Australia. Through Thrive, we provide microfinance and business guidance to make sure they start properly and run profitable businesses. We want to stop refugees or asylum seekers failing at a new business. It can affect other aspects of their lives that they’re trying to rebuild in a new country.

Thrive Refugee Enterprise helps refugees and asylum seekers integrate into the community in two ways – economically and socially. They create employment for themselves and others so the government doesn’t need to support them financially. Socially, they start interacting with others in the community so develop good English speaking skills and settle in much faster than if they were living in isolation. On a daily basis, I’m involved in strategy, planning and identifying which communities we should be offering our services to.

Before arriving in Australia, I lived and worked in Afghanistan in the microfinance sector. I ran a large microfinance program that helped create 165,000 small and medium enterprises, employing one million people over five years. I was forced to flee Afghanistan after being attacked by the Taliban.

Helping people is what drives me personally and professionally. I have been a refugee for most of my life; my family and I had to leave Afghanistan and flee to Pakistan when I was one years old because the Soviet Union forces who occupied Afghanistan imprisoned my father, a senior military official. For almost twenty years, my family and I lived a tough life as refugees in Pakistan (forced from the very well-off life we had in Afghanistan). I saw how hard it was for my parents and extended family to cope with the situation. Having experienced those difficulties first-hand, it’s a natural and almost an automatic response for me that I want to help other refugees and asylum seekers in similar situations.

My initial experiences in Australia were positive. Many people I met were welcoming. They made an extra effort to help me feel at home, and gave the support and guidance I needed. They have become lifetime friends and we often hang out together. I did hear some racist comments too; however, the good experiences far outweigh the bad ones.

I also went back to study (at the University of Sydney) for my second post-graduate degree, this time in project management. It was important for me to get local education and make myself more relevant to the employers by having an Australian education. I was working full-time during the day and attending university at night.

What I love most about Australia is that there’s actual freedom here -freedom of speech, religion and choices. If migrants want to make a difference in their lives and the society, and are really committed to it there are many opportunities here. I call Australia the land of opportunities and highly recommend that refugees and migrants make the most of the diverse opportunities that are available in Australia in all aspects of life, especially the economic aspect. I love the lifestyle too - the culture of beaches, barbeques and following a local footy team – it’s a fun life for Australians.

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