Roman Abasy · 32 min
A former Afghan Taekwondo champion who fled the Taliban reveals how sport literally saved his life twice, and how he now uses it to rebuild the lives of thousands of refugees in Western Sydney.
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Roman Abasy represented Afghanistan in 35 international taekwondo championships and won five international medals. Beyond sport, he founded a non-profit organisation supporting women and girls in Afghanistan, running campaigns to convince families, especially fathers, about the benefits of sport in a country where it was banned for women. When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Roman became a target because of his advocacy work and his support for Afghan security forces. The International Olympic Committee helped evacuate him to Pakistan, and he arrived in Australia in late 2022 with his family.
The first months were brutal. Roman arrived with only 10 percent English and struggled most with the language barrier when dealing with government agencies and interpreters. He credits his wife with keeping him steady through the hardest days of adjustment. To accelerate his English, he and his wife deactivated their social media and spent five or six months watching films, reading books, and speaking only English to each other. His first job in Australia was as a taekwondo instructor, where he discovered that sport needed no words, just movement and demonstration.
Today, Roman works as a resettlement coordinator, organising about 100 sport programs for over 2,000 refugees across Western Sydney. He has seen sport break down isolation in ways nothing else can. In one football program for 250 refugees from different communities, people who barely spoke in week one were taking selfies together by week ten. One refugee from Iraq arrived facing mental health challenges and isolation; after ten weeks, he asked to become an instructor and now works as a coach and referee across multiple organisations. Roman calls on organisations to provide free sport and recreation for refugees and migrants, because sport in Australia is expensive and new arrivals cannot afford it.
“I think the only way that we can support the refugees and migrants, it's a sport.”
“A refugee is a person who has two lives one before and one after. They lose so much but they always try to rebuild.”
“Sometimes the sport change lives.”
The hero, today
Sport is the strongest tool to support refugees and migrants because it lets people connect without needing language; you only need to kick, punch, pass, and shoot properly. A refugee is a person who has two lives, one before and one after, who loses so much but always tries to rebuild and stays strong and keeps hoping for a better future. Setting small goals, celebrating achievements along the way, being patient with yourself, and asking for help are not optional steps but essential ones when starting a new life in a foreign country. Young refugees and migrants are at risk of radicalisation through social media because they watch videos and are impressed by groups without the age or experience to think deeply about what they are seeing. Learning English, finding work, and making new friends do not happen overnight; Roman and his wife deactivated their social media and spent five or six months watching films, reading books, and speaking only English to each other to speed up the process.
Yes. Roman Abasy is a real person who shared their own story in their own words. Kintsugi Heroes is a not-for-profit that shares first-person stories of overcoming adversity, told with the person's consent.
Kintsugi Heroes, a registered Australian not-for-profit. Every story is shared with the hero's own consent and reviewed under Kintsugi Heroes' trauma-informed content standard before it goes public.
Sport is the strongest tool to support refugees and migrants because it lets people connect without needing language; you only need to kick, punch, pass, and shoot properly.
A refugee is a person who has two lives, one before and one after, who loses so much but always tries to rebuild and stays strong and keeps hoping for a better future.
Setting small goals, celebrating achievements along the way, being patient with yourself, and asking for help are not optional steps but essential ones when starting a new life in a foreign country.
Young refugees and migrants are at risk of radicalisation through social media because they watch videos and are impressed by groups without the age or experience to think deeply about what they are seeing.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 00:17
Hello and welcome to From There to Here, the podcast where we talk about what it takes to build a new life far from home. I'm your host, Emma Belamy, and today my guest is Roman Abazi. Roman is a former professional taekwondo athlete who represented Afghanistan on the global stage and has won multiple international medals. But beyond his athletic achievements, Roman is also a human rights advocate who has fiercely supported the right of women and girls to participate in sports in Afghanistan. After the Taliban's return to power in 2021, he became a target due to his outspoken advocacy and was forced to flee Afghanistan with his family. He's now resettled in Australia and continued his work as a human rights advocate, but also became a sports coordinator and ambassador for refugee inclusion programs. Please welcome Romain Dabazy. Romain Dabazy, welcome to the podcast From There to Here.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 01:41
Thank you very much, Ima. Nice to see you.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 01:43
Yes. So, Romain, you are originally from Afghanistan, and I'm really intrigued to know more about your story as a refugee and as someone who supports many refugees. But before we do that, can you tell me what your life was like in Afghanistan before you had to escape?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 02:04
Oh, thank you very much. At first, thanks for this opportunity, Imaad. I was born and grew up in Afghanistan and I was there for over 30 years old. I recently came to Australia in the last 2 years, but in Afghanistan I finished my school, my universities. I was there as a champion in taekwondo and represent Afghanistan in international taekwondo championships. I represent Afghanistan for over 35 international championships. I got 5 international medals.
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This conversation includes a champion in afghanistan, from athlete to advocate, breaking the ban on women's sport, the taliban takes over, the weight of a new language and his wife, his anchor.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 02:37
Oh, it's amazing. And so I know that you transitioned in your career from being an athlete to being a human rights advocate. Can you tell me a bit more about this transition in your life?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 02:49
Yeah, how I changed my career from sport to the human rights. I started a non-for-profit organization in Afghanistan that supports disadvantaged communities and especially women and girls. We encourage them to sport, to education, and my career started from there. And I had a lot of campaigns there. I advocate for the rights of athletes in Afghanistan and for the rights of Sport for Women in Afghanistan, and from that part, make human rights activity start from the sport activities, especially for the rights of athletes in Afghanistan.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 03:27
How did you begin to be interested in the rights of women to participate in sports in Afghanistan? How did that interest arise?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 03:37
Yeah, actually, in Afghanistan, I'm not sure you know that sport is banned for women and girls, and it's something unfamiliar, especially in the provinces, not in the capital of Afghanistan. And once we noticed this, we started the campaigns to encourage the families, especially the dads in the families, because in Afghanistan, the dad is the CEO of a family. For that, we started to have a discussion with them and explain to them about the benefits of a sport. For that, we had a lot of campaigns to change the minds of the people. And luckily, we have a good outcome as well. And we encourage many people and they join many activities, especially women and girls in Afghanistan.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 04:21
Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So that's actually what caused you in some ways to leave because you became a target due to your outspoken advocacy after the Taliban came back to power in 2021. So can you bring us back to this moment where you had to escape because of this work that you were doing?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 04:43
Yeah, as I mentioned before, I was a founder of a non-for-profit organization that we support the women and girls. And beside that, we support Afghanistan National Forces, security forces that fight against Taliban. We support their families as well. Once the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, they target me and my family in Afghanistan. On that time, I reach out to the Austrian Olympic Committee and also International Olympic Committee. They support me to evacuate from Afghanistan to Pakistan, and after that I stayed there for 3 months and I came to Australia in late 2022. I came with most of my family, but still some of my family and relatives there in Afghanistan, and unfortunately they're also in danger and not in a good condition. But when I came to Australia, I came with my family, with my siblings, and I settled here. Leaving everything behind, it was too difficult for me. When I came to Australia, I saw many challenges and the first thing was the language barrier and the second was a different culture, different people. And also it was completely new for us and it takes a long time to adjust on the new country.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 05:57
Do you have any example that would illustrate how difficult it was to adapt to this very different culture and language? Like, do you remember a story that, you know, made you realize how hard it was going to be?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 06:13
Yeah, I think as I mentioned, the language barrier, it was the hardest one. When we had meetings with Centrelink on that time, with some government organizations, it was very difficult for me, for my wife to communicate with the person that's working in a government. For that, we called the interpreter on that time and we discussed our issues, our problems through the interpreter. And it was this one thing that I feel not good, that why I'm not communicating myself with the person and I use the third one. It was very difficult. And also the culture is completely different in here. In Afghanistan, we grew up with the families, with friends, everyone was around us, but here it's not like this, completely different culture. Everyone is busy and there's no time for people. We have a big, big issues in Australia, like social isolation. Mental health issue. I think the one difference is that we are not together in Australia, but in Afghanistan, the environment, the people, and the family is completely different.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 07:13
Yeah. You know what, actually, Australia is one of the most individualistic cultures. And so coming from, you know, a community-based culture to an individualistic culture must have been quite a culture shock for you because it couldn't have been more different.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 07:29
Yeah, it was too different on that days. But luckily my wife was with me on that time and very tough time. Time. She supports me a lot, and to be honest, I really love her, and she was with me in the very hardest time. And beside that, I respect her a lot. For that, I'm just thinking, if my wife was not with me when I came to Australia, it was completely difficult for me to settle in this new country.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 07:57
Yeah, I think that to have a person that you can really rely on and that you love and has your back is so important. At the same time, it has its own sets of challenges. When you come with some members of your family or your partner, is that you keep speaking the language as well?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 08:15
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The great thing is that we have our family. I speak with my wife with my own language, with my siblings, with my parents. It feels like we are in Afghanistan, we are at home. But sometimes outside of home, and that was when we came to Australia, it was a little bit difficult to communicate with people.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 08:33
So you arrived here and you didn't speak any English.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 08:38
I can speak like maybe 10%.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 08:41
10%.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 08:41
But we use interpreter on that time.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 08:43
Yeah. Yeah.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 08:44
Yeah.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 08:45
So that's tough. So how did you do to find work in the early days?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 08:51
Oh, it was difficult because when I apply for the job, the only thing they ask about the language. I told them that I have this background in sport and human rights, and they said, okay, it's good, but language is very important in Australia. For that, me and my wife, we took a decision about how we can learn English faster. And we started from deactivating all our social media and we started watching the movies, reading the books, and communicating with each other in English language. After 5, 6 months, we realized that now we can communicate better with each other with other people, and also I read a lot of big books on that time. I grabbed the English language really faster.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 09:36
Wow, that's, that's amazing. Yeah, well, I guess you don't have a choice, right? When you arrive, if you don't speak the language, you don't get to have a job, you don't get to have a community around you. So it's a matter of survival as well.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 09:48
Yeah, yeah. My first job was Taekwondo instructor. The good things that in Taekwondo We don't need too much language. You just show your actions, you are kicking, you're punching. After that, I find a new job in different area, especially working with refugees and migrants.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 10:06
Actually, you know, when you say that taekwondo doesn't require much language, I think that is a very good transition with what I want to talk next, because you are today a resettlement worker, and so you have organized about 100 sports programs for over 2,000 refugees in Western Sydney. So sport is the way that you help them integrate. And tell us why you think that sports is so important for the integration of refugee and migrant communities.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 10:44
I think the only way that we can support the refugees and migrants, it's sport. I have a good example of how can sports support the refugees. We organize a football program for the 250 refugees in Blacktown. We invite refugees from different communities and most of them, they can communicate with each other. Some refugees from Iraq and some refugees from Afghanistan, both groups, they can speak English, either Arabic or Persian, and we organize a football program between them. On the first week, we noticed that they're not talking with each other because they don't know each other on the first week. The second week, we realized that they have a little bit in contact with each other. And after that, on the 10th week, they were friends with each other and they talk with each other. They take selfies with each other and posted some on social media. It was completely different experience for me, how sport is strongest tool to support refugees and migrants. And still I'm using sport as a strongest tool to support refugees and migrants.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 11:45
Mm. Yeah, because I think it's the best way to connect because sports is a powerful way to transcend language and cultural barriers, right? You can connect with someone without the need to talk. So I think that you can really have a powerful connection to someone with very little words when you are engaged in a physical sportive activity.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 12:11
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. In a sport, you don't need to speak English or maybe any other language. The only things need just kick properly and just punch properly or shoot the ball properly and pass the ball properly. It's very important in the sport.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 12:25
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it is. And it makes me reflect that personally, when I arrived in Australia, I wasn't a sportive person at all. And then I realized that it was kind of an important part of the culture. So I started, and this is how I think I made 95% of my friends here.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 12:45
Oh, that's great. Yeah.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 12:47
Yeah. So I feel what you've experienced and what you help people do is, is really one of the best ways to cultivate a community here because it's not easy to make friends when you are an adult and you don't go to school and you don't see people frequently. With an activity where you have to commit every week, you get to really build connections with the people that you engage with. And if you don't do that, it's going to be really difficult to feel that you have a community around you. I don't know if you've experienced the same thing personally with practicing taekwondo and sports here. Like, did you feel like you've gained your friendships from practicing sport?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 13:27
Yeah, absolutely. Most of my friends, as you mentioned, are sport friends. In my work, we have specific sport activities for specific communities. Like, we have a football program for the Afghan communities. When the newly arrived Afghan came to Australia, especially in Sydney, we invite them on that sport activities. On the first week, he or she find like around 20, 30 friends and they're in the same community, the same background, the same situation. I'm not sure without the sport, how can we gather people like 30 or 25 people? For that, the only things that I use is sport.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 14:06
Hmm. Yeah. No, it's an incredible tool. And do you have a story perhaps of one person who was perhaps isolated and started and really changed and you saw evolved through being involved in sport?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 14:21
Yeah. In my old programs, in my previous role, in the project that I worked, it was just for those that they faced social isolation and mental health. And my role was how can we bring them to the sport? Activities. We invite many refugees and migrants faced with social isolation, with mental health, with trauma, and we invite them in the activities, especially football. And that one completely changed their life. One refugee from Iraq, he came to our football program. He was too good on football. He came like 10 weeks. And at the end of that 10 weeks, he asked me that I want to join as an instructor. Just show me how can be an instructor in Australia. Australia, and we introduced him to many organizations. Now he's working in different organizations as a trainer, as a coach, as a referee, especially with kids. And I remember when he came to Australia, on that time he don't know anyone and he was not involved in any sport activities. Now he's a coach and he's working with a large number of people and all the community respect him, know him because he's now a coach. Sometimes the sport change lives.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 15:34
Yeah, it does.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 15:35
Mine is the same story, how sport change my life. When I grew up in age of maybe 12 or 11, I started taekwondo. I play taekwondo for over 15 years and I found the organizations that support the Afghanistan people through sport and recreation. And when the Taliban take over Afghanistan, The sport saved my life. I used the sport and contact the Australian Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee, and I came to Australia. After that, I find my first job. It was a sport job. I'm 100% connect with the sport in different part of my life.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 16:16
Yeah. So sports has been really this saving influence, this thing that has saved you multiple times in your life.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 16:22
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm not sure about what's happening next, but sport will help me in my next step as well.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 16:30
Do you still practice taekwondo?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 16:32
I'm still coaching the taekwondo, but because in taekwondo the retirement age is 28, 29, and I'm now over 30 years old, it's the retirement time for me as an athlete, as a taekwondo player.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 16:48
Oh, that's a pity. Yeah. But are you involved in any other sports?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 16:53
Yeah, I'm going to the gym sometimes. I'm playing football, martial arts, tennis as well. But most of the time I'm busy with planning the sport activities for others, for refugees.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 17:05
Hmm. Okay. Let's talk about your work with young refugees and migrants, because I wonder whether you know about the unique challenges that they face that adult refugees and migrants may not.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 17:21
In my experience, I closely work with the refugees and youths, especially from different backgrounds, from Arab countries, from Afghanistan, from Sudan, from many, many countries that they are living in Fairfield and surrounding areas. I closely work with them. The one thing that I notice, most of them, they have some issues like they're using VIP and electronic cigarette, and also they're not too much active. Most of their time is spent on the screen and using the phone, and they're completely busy with social media, with playing the online games. I think it's very dangerous for the youths, especially on that age that they need to be active, to be focused on their studies, and to focus about their future.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 18:09
What do you think we can do about that?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 18:11
Just awareness that we have a lot of campaigns. We invite them in different workshops about the effect of electronic cigarette and also about the social media. We have a lot of workshops and we encourage people to stay away from the social media and cigarettes.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 18:31
And what do you think are the main problems with using social media? Is it just the fact that they spend too much time on it, or are there other things that you think are not beneficial for them.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 18:45
I think the main point is the wasting your time, but there are many other reasons as well, especially with the youths. We noticed that some of the youth, they're joining some radicalist group because they saw movies, they, they impressed by their activities. It became a radicalism in the future for them. It's very big issue for them as well. I'm not sure that you saw the recently there's a documentary on Netflix. I forgot the name, and they show how the social media has a bad effect on the youth. I think it's a very big issue now in Australia for the youths.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 19:23
Yeah, I haven't seen it, I haven't seen it, but I'm definitely gonna look it up and see whether I can find it. But yeah, when you say that the youth is getting radicalized through the use of social media, can you elaborate on that? What, what are your insights? What are the things that you see in the young that you are helping?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 19:42
Yeah, especially when you check their social media accounts, the way of their writing, the way of their speaking, and they're sharing those content that you realize that it's not like a boy with like 17, 18, 19 years old, that he don't think like this. It's someone else that encouraged them to think like this. Recently, there are many people, they were in Sydney University They raised the Taliban flag. When I check the photo, some of them is the youth and they don't know that these flags represent the Taliban, but they don't know about that. Wow.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 20:18
Yeah, that must be really scary for you to see that some young people are supporting that regime that you had to escape.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 20:27
Yeah. Yeah. And their flag is now raising on the University of Sydney. But I noticed that youth, they're most involved. Social media and TikTok, and they're supporting different terrorist groups all over the world.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 20:43
And so why, in your opinion, they are supporting those groups? Is it just ignorance, or—
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 20:50
I think they don't know. They're not on that age to think deeply about these issues. They're just watching the videos, the social media, and they're like, they're impressed by those groups and In the future, they will be joining them.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 21:06
I wonder as well, as someone who supported women's rights, what are your hopes and concerns for their future in Afghanistan?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 21:16
Yeah, I think Taliban is not forever in Afghanistan. Lots of regimes came in Afghanistan and gone, and Taliban also, they were temporary there, but they destroyed completely Afghanistan, especially the women's rights and also They banned school in Afghanistan. They banned sport for women. There is no rights for women in Afghanistan. I'm sure one day all the world, they knew what's happening in Afghanistan. The people of the world, they will support Afghanistan people as well that those living in Afghanistan will stand against Taliban, against their rules, against their regime. I hope we have an Afghanistan without Taliban in the future.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 21:59
Do you have any words of wisdom or advice to give to refugees or migrants out there who may be struggling with fitting in Australia or in any other country that they are living in?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 22:15
I think to all the migrants and refugees starting their new life in foreign country, especially in Australia, my advice is simple. Be patient with yourself. It's normal to feel out place at first. It's important to take things one step at a time. Learning the language, finding work, and making new friends. It's not something happening like in a night. I think it's very important to set small goals and celebrate your achievements along the way. And also don't be afraid. To ask for help. There are support networks, both in the community and online, that can help you navigate this new life.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 23:02
And as well, I was about to say, and do some sports so that you can make your life a bit better.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 23:07
Yeah.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 23:09
Do you have any content to recommend for our audience? Any book, any movie or documentary?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 23:15
Oh, that's great.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 23:16
Yeah.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 23:16
I love this question because I think there's one book that I will recommend. I always recommend to everyone, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Khaled Hosseini is an Afghan writer. It's a story about friendship, survival, redemption set in Afghanistan. The book is beautiful and it helped me like remember how important our roots are and staying true to ourselves. I recommend this book to everyone when I meet them the first time, my friends in Australia, but the spell of the book is The Kite Runner. It's a very famous book.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 23:56
Yeah.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 23:56
Yeah.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 23:56
Yeah. I've actually heard of it. I'm definitely going to look it up. You inspired me to do that. And is there anyone in your network that you would love to hear on the podcast?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 24:07
Yeah. Yeah. I think we always focus on refugees and their journey, but behind the scenes, there are many people like The one person that I knew, his name is Neil Ferguson, who are not refugee and Afghan, but who have helped many refugees from different countries, especially Afghans, those escaped from Afghanistan. Neil is a great leader. He worked hard to evacuate and support Afghan families and help them start a new life in Australia. His support and strong voice for refugee during a very hard time made a big difference in many lives. I think if there is any opportunity, I suggest Neil Fergus.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 24:51
Okay. Okay. I will try to reach out. So I have a tradition on the podcast. I like to ask two last kind of set of questions. And the first one is, when I say the word refugee, what are the words that come to mind?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 25:08
That's a great question. I think a refugee is a person who has two lives, one before and one after. They lose so much, but they always try to rebuild. Even after everything they have been through, they stay strong and keep hoping for a better future. Refugees are brave people who start again from nothing.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 25:34
Yeah, and they have lost a lot in the process. Yeah, I love your answer. And the last question that I usually ask is about identity and a sense of home. So I wonder whether you feel like Australia is your home. Do you feel Australian? Do you feel like it is your home here?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 25:58
I think I'm in the middle. I'm Australian and also I'm Afghan. Most of my life I was in Afghanistan for over 30 years old, and I just came to Australia and Australia gave me a new life. I will not choose one of them because my childhood, my friends, my home, my family, my relatives, everything's in Afghanistan. And in here it's a new life. Australia saved my life. I rebuilt my career, my everything. For that, I'm in the middle and I'm Afghan-Australian or Australian-Afghan.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 26:37
And how does that make you feel to be in between two cultures?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 26:41
If I came to Australia maybe at 7 or 6 or 5 years old, I'm sure I will be just Australian. But in here it's completely different. Most of my life is spent in Afghanistan, but it's good. I think you feel better, but you know about two cultures, about two people, about two country. And I love this.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 27:00
Yeah, it's a strength. It's a strength because you get to see both cultures through different pairs of eyes.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 27:07
Yeah. Yeah.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 27:07
When you think about what it means to be Australian, what do you think represents being an Australian the most? When you look from your Afghan point of view into the Australian culture, how do you see the Australian culture? What do you think represents it?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 27:26
I think I love the accent, the Australian accent.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 27:29
Yeah.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 27:30
Yeah. If you use too much like mate or g'day like this, you're Australian. And I think when I came to Australia, it was very difficult to understand the accent for me because the 10% English that I have, I knew on that time it was American English. It was not Australian. When I came here, it was just 0%. And I love this accent. It's completely different and I love this.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 27:54
Yeah, the accent and this mate thing.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 27:58
Yeah. And also the kangaroo. It's something that we never seen before in Afghanistan or maybe any other countries. I just saw the kangaroo in Australia. Yeah.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 28:08
The wildlife is amazing in Australia. I think it's part of what makes this country so amazing is, yeah, the wildlife and it's so respected here. And I don't know, like if you remember when you arrived, but for me, I remembered my first night in Australia and when I woke up, there were so many birds and I thought, like, I didn't understand that they have a certain sound. I thought a baby was crying and I was like, where is this baby crying? And it's actually the, I think it's the kookaburras or like all of these birds, the nature here is so present.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 28:45
Yeah, I agree with that. I'm scared a lot from spider and I live in Australia now. Imagine that life is difficult for me in Australia.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 28:56
Yeah, well, the first time you see a spider in Australia, let me tell you that it's not the kind of spider that you see in other countries.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 29:04
Yeah, they're very big and dangerous.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 29:07
Massive. And the funny thing about it is that Australians are not even afraid. Like, they're like, oh yeah, no big deal. So for anyone who would like to follow the work that you're doing and contact you and follow you, where can they find you?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 29:24
I'm everywhere, like in LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. They can just simply write my name, Roman Abassi, they will find me, but I'm more active in LinkedIn.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 29:34
Okay. And is there anything important that we haven't talked about that you think would be important for the refugees and migrants and the general population that is listening to this podcast to know about?
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 29:49
Yeah, I share this with everyone, with all the organizations. We don't have that much organizations that support refugees and migrants through sport and recreation. I just want to request to all organizations that focus on the refugees and migrants and provide them free sport and recreation. Why I'm saying free? Because sport is very expensive in Australia. It's not for everyone. And the refugees that came to Australia and they are new, it's very difficult for them to hire tennis ground, or also hire a football venue. And I request to all sport and non-sport organizations to provide free sport and recreation activities for the refugees and migrants.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 30:35
Yeah, and I think it's really underrated, the power that sports can have in your integration journey. So it's good that you are highlighting how important that is for those who, who don't know. I feel that a lot of people here don't know when they arrive here that sports can really change their lives personally, but collectively as well, you know, socially. It's good that you are sharing the words.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 31:00
Yeah. Thank you very much, Iman.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 31:02
Yes. Well, thank you. It was a pleasure to have you on the podcast.
Roman Abasy (Guest) · 31:06
Thanks for this opportunity. I really appreciate your time.
Emma Bellamy-Dodd (Host) · 31:09
Yeah, me too. Me too. Thank you so much. Thank you for listening to this episode. This episode, I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Roman. If it resonated with you in some way, please share this episode with a friend, leave us a review, or add stars in the rating of the show. And don't forget to follow us. It really helps this community grow. In 2 weeks, I'll be interviewing Yaser Nazari, who's a former refugee from Iran with an unbelievable story. He'll share how his political activism made it impossible to stay in his homeland, and he'll take us through his boat escape survival journey in very moving details, his time in detention, and the everyday struggles of starting over as an asylum seeker with no language skills or resources. I was your host, Emma Bellamy, and I cannot wait to take you on another journey From there to here.
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