I am a refugee and also an entreprenuer

I am a refugee, in 1974 my family lost everything to the Turkish/Cypriot war (just under Syria). My parents arrived in Australia with only a suitcase and the clothes they were wearing. I was 4 years old. None of us could speak English. My parents worked hard, my dad built businesses and purchased real estate. He retired financially free at age 55.

I have never received any government welfare, I paid my way through uni and have achieved a PhD in medical research.

While all the Australian students were protesting outside parliament house about having to pay for their own education, I was buying real estate and paying for HECS fees.

I inherited my dads mindset and started to invest in property at 19.

I have now developed a million dollar real estate company from concept, an idea, with no help, no support from anyone, I have been working by butt off since I was 15.

I have never felt that the government owes me an education or owes me a job, or has to pay for my medical bills, I have always made my own money and paid my own way. I do not have a victim mentality.

I have employed many Australians and have bought more value to this country than people who have been born here.

There is abundance here, there is no war and nothing to stop you from becoming wealthy POVERTY IS NOTHING BUT A MINDSET!

Refugees are a mixed bag of rich and poor, the poor ones will continue to be poor but the rich ones will build businesses and help the country thrive like my family has done. End of rant...

 

Ok.

 

At least your Father had a suitcase,my Father jumped ship in 1948,just a small bag a few photos,from the slaughter of Nazi Germany and spent time in the death camps,anyone can make it in this great country,all you have to try...one side of our family tree started as a illegal immigration,and i'm very proud he did...

 

While i dont agree with everything you've written xenia (i think there are structual inequalities and obstacles that make it harder for some people to escape poverty but i dont think poor refugees will neccessarily stay poor), i do think your attitude about grasping every opportunity is very common amongst refugees.

Ive taught quite a few refugees. Ive seen some struggle after spending many years in refugee camps or after experiencing real trauma and violence like losing parents or relatives. But generally the common theme is that their parents (if they had any) really want them to achieve and they absolutely appreciate the opportunity education offers them. Ive had a few who were absolutely desperate to learn, who were incredibly grateful for extra help at lunch or after school, kids who prioritised school work above everything else, Orphans who i would happily have taken home if i could have.

Ive never taught native born students who i would describe as that kind of desperate to learn and achieve.

 

Great to see a humanitarian making a difference - well done Esel.

 

Agree @Esel. Have spent a lot of time traching refugees. The discipline, respect and committment to education is amazing. Also, the gratitude and desire for peace.

 

Xenia
interested to know what types businesses your father started?

Admire people who come to a new country with nothing

MTR

 

Refugees nowadays get far far more than when my parents were.

They now get priority housing, free travel on public transport ,priority to Govt jobs and the list goes on.

 

Hi Ms MTR

My dad was a diesel mechanic so his first businesses were in that area, including buying land and building warehouses.

He then moved to resturants. I was old enough by that time to help manage the restaurants but was too young to be involved in the mechanic business.

 

I have af

I have admiration for any and every refugee for making life work in Australia.

However you did not make it on your own.

The Australian government:
- allowed you in
- provided you with primary and secondary education
- subsidised your tertiary education (HECS is just a portion)
- subsidised and or provided medical care for you and your family even if you have private health insurance it is all subsidised.
- provided your children with free or subsidised education and healthcare.

As an "entitled" Australian I have taken none of those things for granted and paid my way in society. I too have employed people and bought value to this country but I would never say I have done more than others.

Poverty is not a mindset but we are in one of the few countries where poverty can be overcome and the success from one generation to another can be extreme. It is through the hard work of many a poor or migrant parent that a child is given every chance of success. The sacrifices a parent makes in giving kids the opportunities they themselves did not have has dramatic effects on that child's ability to succeed.

 

Kudos!

 

Spot on Westminster, can't agree more, well articulated. in Australia, there are lots of things/benefits that people breath in and out every single day without even noticing/knowing them. The country has excellent fundamentals that were built through generations and generations of hard working people. Some people only look at what they have contributed to themselves when they say they have achieved bla by themselves, they forgot to think that their success was built on the great platform that was built through a mass collective effort of ordinary people. Think wider, appreciate more, be humble.

 

Excellent advice for everyone ^

 

Yes gratitude

 

It's clear that Xenia's post was in response to another thread where a few people said that Australia shouldn't accept refugees. She's simply saying that we shouldn't assume that refugees are takers; they are also great contributors to a country. She's not saying she's done 'more than others'; nor is she saying she's not appreciate of the fundamental structures in Australia that gives us all an equal footing.

She's hasn't ridden on the back of anyone's coat tails; no one has handed her anything on a silver platter. She running a successful business and providing for her family; it's not a hobby with a safety net should it fail.

 

i posted this in another thread, but I think it really highlights the topic Xenia is talking about.

 

Yes, I saw that on the news the other night. What a fantastic story!! Love it.

 

Hey, lets not forget bogans! They have also "worked" hard to achieve their status quo lol.

Bogans have kept the Holden plant alive , churning out commodore after commodore.

Bogans have also kept the textile industry busy and have kept clothing designers scratching their heads with the unusual apparel (beanies and flanno shirts).

Sure, bogans have sucked the living life out of the social welfare system but they made up for it....you won't find a bogan with a HECs debt! Thereby saving the govt hundreds of millions.

Bogans have also created countless jobs in law enforcement and the judicial system.

In the grand scheme of things the bogan has contributed as much, if not more, to Australia than most successful refugee.

 

Thanks BK

Yes exactly

No Human being, plant or animal has ever been able to survive alone. We are part of a system that works in collaboration.
That is obvious.

I have a lot of gratitude for the abundance and opportunities that are everywhere. Australia is an awesome system.