Success stories - Fawad: Journey to Canada – A Refugee’s Story

Fawad Popalyar

March 2011

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In 1992, Fawad Popalyar’s father was faced with a life-changing choice and had only seconds to decide. A businessman by trade, he had received word from friends that fighting was going to break out near his home in Kabul, Afghanistan. Should he uproot his entire family based on a rumour, or continue on with his day?

Luckily for Fawad and his siblings, his dad chose to send them to his cousin’s house on the other side of the city. That night, Fawad’s house was hit by five missiles. The attack solidified a difficult decision−they would have to flee Afghanistan and head for the closest safe locale, Peshawar, Pakistan − at least until the fighting subsided.

Ten hours later, they arrived at the border where guards were painstakingly searching every vehicle. A small child ran up alongside the car asking for money in exchange for carrying their luggage across the border. As people who had just abandoned their homes, Fawad and his family did not have much money to spare. However, the child persisted and they gave him 50 rupees (approximately one dollar). The child then ran over to the security guard and gave the money to him, prompting him to wave them through and literally look the other way. It was another decision that would change the course of Fawad’s life forever.

Fawad joined thousands of other refugees in Pakistan in hopes of a better future. However, life remained difficult. The civil war in Afghanistan showed no sign of ending and refugees continued to seek protection in great numbers. As a result, many were living in cramped conditions with little to no resources. For Fawad, this meant his first few years in Peshawar were spent sharing one house with five families. The lights would go out frequently, so the young students often had to study by lamp in a corner of the house.

Regardless of the obstacles and poor living arrangements, Fawad and his siblings focused all their energies on their education, as they knew it was the key to life outside of refugee camps. Differences in language and dialect were the primary areas of difficulty, so Fawad chose to enrol in an English course in addition to his other classes.

It was there he learned about the World University Services Canada’s Student Refugee Sponsorship Program which gives refugees the opportunity to study in Canada. There were over 500 applicants when Fawad applied in 2000, but his dedication to his studies earned him a place at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Fawad had just two weeks to say good-bye to his family and learn everything he could about Canada. Of the moment he got the news, Fawad said, it felt like he “had achieved [his] goal. If I have this, I will have everything.”

Once he arrived in Canada, the learning experience started all over again as he began his journey towards integration. Every day was a new lesson—from learning how to dress, to deciphering social codes and different accents. He persevered and finished his bachelor’s degree in 2006, along the way obtaining his Canadian citizenship in 2005. He says that the ceremony provided a great sense of belonging and was particularly important, as his friends from university took part as well.

Today Fawad is a university graduate, public servant, and community volunteer, work he describes as, “a chance to prove to everyone and to this country that you’ve given me a chance and now it’s my turn to give back.”

Reflecting on his experiences, he notes that despite facing a tumultuous time in one’s life, one can overcome the odds through perseverance and courage. He says, “I want people to know that if I could do it, then you can too”.

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