Back from left, Paula Tangga, Laurence Laluces, Najaf Mazari, ESL co-ordinator and teacher Danielle Radivo, ESL literacy aide Marisa Scott, Vichhay Kourt, Maria Omalaja, front, Arif Ali, Nawid Jamalie, Hanif Askari and multicultural aide Enaya Zara.By Bridget Cook
AN Afghani refugee who has made his mark in Australia inspired a group of Cranbourne Secondary College students recently.
Cranbourne Secondary College English as Second Language (ESL) class visited co-author of ‘The Rugmaker of Mazar-e-Sharif’, Najaf Mazari.
The Year 12 students visited Mr Mazari’s rug shop Afghan Traditional Rugs in Prahran to talk to him about his life and book, which they are studying.
The book traces Mr Mazari’s life from being a shepherd boy in Afghanistan, were he faced torture and death by the Taliban, to owner of a successful rug shop in Melbourne.
ESL co-ordinator and Teacher Danielle Radivo said it was an insightful and rewarding experience for the students.
“It’s a real story of triumph and survival,” she said. “Some of the students’ parents are refugees, so this was a story of one of their own who has done really well and been a real asset to society.
“The students asked many relevant questions.”
Mr Mazari has also set up the Mazar Development Fund, which aims to raise financial support for health and education programs in Afghanistan.
