When Alphonso Karbehl came to Goulburn in 2009 after spending years in Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana, he decided to use this opportunity to build a life he had always dreamed about.
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"Goulburn is my home now. Anytime I travel to Sydney or Canberra, I miss Goulburn," Mr Karbel said.
His journey from Liberia, West Africa to Goulburn has not been an easy one.
"We were living a comfortable, secured life and in the blink of an eye, everything disappeared. Some people don't understand what it's like to come to a new country. You learn new things every day and it sometimes takes years to adapt," he said.
In 1989, Mr Karbehl was studying in school one day when he heard gunshot sounds outside.
"The civil war had started and it went on for years with people killing each other," he recounted.
"My mother somehow managed to find me and we ran to the forest to protect ourselves. My father was captured and killed. With no food and money, we somehow reached the Buduburam Refugee Camp which already had thousands of people," he said.
"It was difficult to find a job. I saw people around me starving and dying. At the age of 10, I was responsible for taking care of my family."
Things started to look up after they were told that the Australian government would like to give them refuge and take them to the country.
"We were very excited," he said.
"During the interview process, I told them that I want better education, good life and future. If I have kids, I will make sure that they don't have to experience the things I have faced."
However, tragedy struck and his sister succumbed to food poisoning.
"It was a tough time for my family. We waited for two more years before coming to Goulburn in 2009 on Refugee Humanitarian visa," he said.
He now shares his life journey with children in school to give them an idea about what it means to be a refugee.
"When I share my story, I tell them to use it to improve their life," he said.
After moving to the city, he studied at Goulburn High School where he met his wife and now have four kids.
"We are expecting our fifth child in September," he beamed with joy.
"My life changed after coming here. I have a life now that I have always dreamed of. I am happy and grateful for my life here."
He later went to Goulburn TAFE College and is now studying to be a nurse in Canberra.
"I chose this line of study because I want to help people," he said.
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