Tara Fatehi an inspiration to our youth is nominated for Pride of Australia People’s Choice Award
TWENTY years ago, Tara Fatehi escaped from conflict in the Middle East for a better life in Australia.
MORE than two decades ago Tara Fatehi escaped from conflict in the Middle East for a better life in Australia.
But as she sees images of Islamic militants attacking the Kurdish city of Kobani, it’s brought memories of her harrowing escape back again.
Ms Fatehi, 24, of Dernancourt, spearheaded a protest in Rundle Mall yesterday, calling to end the unjust way the people of Kobani, Syria, are being persecuted.
She — and other members of the Kurdish community — called on western governments to support the Kurdish fighters in Kobani with further military support.
“That was us 10, 20 years ago and it’s happening again but it’s just a different region of Kurdistan,” she said.
“I will never forget that experience — it’s my motivation to keep going.”
After escaping her war-torn country two decades ago, Ms Fatehi is now kicking goals in the medical field, studying for her PhD in medicine at Flinders University, majoring in public health.
Her life now is a far cry from living in Kurdistan, a country her family was forced to flee before seeking refuge in Turkey.
The family was then granted a humanitarian visa which allowed them to relocate to Adelaide in 1995.
For Ms Fatehi, a trip back to Kurdistan to visit relatives in 2004 brings back shocking memories and has only spurred her on to pursue her dreams of working with the World Health Organisation or the United Nations in the health field.
“My appendix burst and I had to go into hospital and I saw first hand the health care system,” she said.
“I had a horrible experience because of who I am an my ethnicity I got it even worse — I had surgery and wasn’t given pain killers, the way they spoke to me and treated me (was awful) because I was Kurdish.”
Ms Fatehi continues to give back to the community through volunteering at the Royal Adelaide Hospital’s health promotion unit, the Kurdish Ethnic School in Adelaide and as the founder of the Adelaide Kurdish Youth Society.
“I love this country so much for all the freedom it’s given me,” Ms Fatehi said.
You can vote for Ms Fatehi and other local heroes in the News Corp Pride of Australia People’s Choice Award.
The winner will be announced in a ceremony in Sydney on December 11 and will receive a bronze medallion, and $20,000 — $10,000 for themselves and $10,000 for their chosen charity.