Why this blog?
I have always thought that many people in so-called peaceful countries do not understand how a person living in a conflict situation feels and deals with life.
People tend to look at them as oppressed, helpless victims.
I want to change your perspective. To challenge the way you look at me and others, who have lived through conflict.
I want to show you how people develop resilience and survive.
My website and 'Raised in Conflict' will also form a resource for my children and others for generations to come.
I want you to remember that many of us have not only survived but have lived, grown and triumphed.
I also want to honor my family and to inspire my children and teach them about their homeland.
10% of money from the sales of this book will go towards building a library in Lolinj my ancestral village.
Former asylum seeker helps others develop resilience
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Essan Dileri, a refugee from Afghanistan living in Australia for just over three years, has published a book called Raised in Conflict. He is pictured in his ancestral village of Lolinj, Parwan Province, Afghanistan. Source: Supplied
FORMER asylum seeker Essan Dileri proudly calls Australia home.
As the nation celebrated Refugee Week recently, his personal story of struggle and hope made an impact.
Mr Dileri grew up in Afghanistan fleeing persecution and eventually settled in Australia.
The story is contained in a self-published book, Raised in Conflict, which was launched last month.
The book chronicles his childhood living in a nation colonised and controlled by a foreign power, the disruption and civil war that followed Russia's withdrawal from Afghanistan and his family's flight to Pakistan where he worked hard to become well educated and developed the skills needed to help rebuild his homeland.
As a member of a group called Afghan Youth Foundation for Unity, he returned to Afghanistan where he worked with young people rebuilding their country while promoting human rights and improved education.
He completed a Masters Degree at an Irish university, with a thesis on Alternative Livelihoods, suggesting Afghan farmers grow saffron rather than opium.
The paper received international attention - but not all of it positive.
"This put me in big trouble because the drug lords were not happy with my thesis which was being picked up by (Afghan poppy) farmers,'' Mr Dileri said.
When his family began to be targeted by drug lords, Mr Dileri once again fled Afghanistan and sought asylum in Australia.
He now lives in Mill Park and works at the Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, helping newly arrived refugees and migrants to settle in Australia.
Despite the tumultuous life he has lived, Mr Dileri said he wanted people to know that living in a conflict situation didn't mean that life was always unhappy.
"People enjoy their life as much as any other, but it is in a different way - you have to develop resilience and all the time be on the lookout to survive,'' he said.
He said he also wanted to give a better understanding of why people flee places of conflict, war and insurgency and seek asylum in Australia and the contribution refugees can make in their new country.
"I wanted to share what I went through as a child, an adult and a refugee, and how it has made me the person I am today,'' he said.
"I want my children to understand what kind of situation their dad went through and what difficulties he endured.
"I work full time and I don't rely on benefits.
"In my role as a youth settlement and projects team leader (at the Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre), I help young refugees and asylum seekers to settle well in Australia.
"I was always and still (am) passionate about working with people who need my support.''
The buy a copy of the book, email Mr Dileri.
