Sorgul's story
An ambassador to the Refugee Council of Australia, co-host of You Belong podcast, university student, mentor, health educator, business operator, translator and interpreter, Sorgul Maho is juggling plenty of responsibilities and making a difference, not just in the lives of individuals but in entire communities.
Sorgul’s journey from Afrin, her hometown in northern Syria, to Toowoomba in Australia has fostered within her a tenacity and determination to overcome the many challenges of leaving behind the country of her birth and everything she knew and loved. With the situation in Syria becoming increasingly unsafe, she and her family fled to Turkey in 2014, where they would spend the next four years until being offered refuge in Australia.
In an interview with Rachel Carter for the You Belong podcast, ‘Who is My Neighbour?’, Sorgul recalls the many thoughts running through her mind during the eighteen-hour flight from Turkey to Australia. She had plans to continue university study but wondered if there would be difficulties and whether it would be possible at all. Those concerns have since been laid to rest as she is now in her final year of a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Social Justice Studies at the University of Southern Queensland.
Even before leaving Syria, Sorgul was actively helping others. Having studied English Language and Literature at Aleppo University for two years she was able to teach the language to internally displaced students in her town.Since arriving in Australia she has continued to use her gifts and abilities and responded to the many opportunities to help people in her community, particularly through interpreting and translating. She also helps students from her community at university. “It’s great to see them chasing their dreams (and) growing,” says Sorgul.
Sorgul is also delighted to be able to teach Kurdish to Australians who are keen to learn. “It’s great to see how many people are interested in learning Kurdish Kurmanji to be able to communicate with the community.”
When asked what some of the challenges of settling into a new country were, Sorgul reflected how overwhelming it could be. “Even with being able to speak the language of the new country that you’ve just arrived in, it makes it easy but it’s still challenging because it’s a whole new world; it’s a new lifestyle.” But despite the challenges, Sorgul found the determination to do better and despite giving up many times she would wake the next day with the power to go on. “Whenever I think of where I was and who I am now,” says Sorgul, “It’s just incredible to me.”
Sorgul sees value in using our skills to help others and has been a great supporter of You Belong welcome picnics. “It’s great because when you have the skills that you can help with, why not share what you know. And it’s great to meet new people, especially at You Belong picnics. It was great to meet so many people getting together ….Australian people and from the refugee community. It was fascinating to see so many Australians get to know them, take phone numbers and say ‘Let’s catch up later’.”
Sorgul emphasises how important it is for both Australians and those from a refugee background to have open dialogue so that experiences, hopes and dreams can be shared and understandings enriched. “It’s an inspiration for so many people to hear their stories and get to know more about the refugee community.”
You can listen to the complete interview with Sorgul here.
More information about Sorgul can be found at:
Sorgul (pictured in the middle) with guests on You Belong’s podcast called ‘Who is my neighbour?’
