refugee food tour sydney

Sydney Markets And FoodLab Sydney Is A Boon To Migrant And Refugee Food Entrepreneurs

Sep 06, 2023

Rubbing his hands briskly as he braved the unusually cold Sydney winter morning chill was FoodLab’s Managing Director, Jamie Loveday. He was on a tour of Sydney Markets , alongside migrant and refugee chefs and caterers who are our next generation of entrepreneurs in Sydney’s food scene.

It was a typical day at the markets, brimming with activity and a special day for Jamie and the team of ten chefs and caterers from FoodLAB Sydney, a not-for-profit kitchen incubator. The group – all migrant food entrepreneurs – were keen to soak up the atmosphere and meet the local producers who are pivotal to their business.

“Our partnership with Sydney Markets enables our entrepreneurs to access a lot of the growers here, a lot of the wholesale products of fresh produce, and to form relationships with the buyers who are a really integral part of their business,” explains Jamie.

“That sort of support means that our entrepreneurs can become flourishing business owners, contribute to a really beautiful food scene in Sydney, are able to contribute to what they love doing and what they’re passionate about, and hopefully, one day, will start employing people for themselves.”

Thanks to the partnership between FoodLAB and Sydney Markets, Syrian chef Racha Abou Alchamat, Zimbabwe chef Alick Malewa and Melinda Essey from The Messey Table have become patrons at Paddy’s Markets where they regularly provide cooking demonstrations.

“Sydney Markets is giving us all the support and help that we need, and they are lovely people,” said Racha from Racha Syrian Kitchen. “What I love about the markets is you can get everything you need here, and everything is so fresh.”

Melinda Essey says her involvement with Sydney Markets has brought her career opportunities that she never dreamed would be possible such as appearing on national TV to talk about her passion for fresh food.

“Through the FoodLAB, I was connected with Sydney Markets and that has been a career changer for me,” says Melinda, who offers cooking classes and experiences for those looking to lower the impact of their carbon footprint through a sustainable and seasonal way of eating.

Alick Malewa from African Food Feasts said Sydney Markets has helped him showcase his love for African food to a wider audience with his regular cooking demonstrations. This includes African food evenings at Paddy’s Markets. “It’s also helped me overcome the challenge of finding fresh Taro and Plantains which are both popular in African cuisine. It’s always better to use fresh rather than frozen ingredients.”

Mother and daughter team Blanca Perera and Blanca Mejia, who own Olotl Traditional Mexican Food company, also said Sydney Markets were key to their success because they needed to be able to buy specialist ingredients such as cactus, chile poblano and tomatillos to make authentic Mexican dishes.

For Lebanese chef Mani Darwiche from Emba Kitchen , the visit to the markets was a chance to simply soak up the vibrant atmosphere and meet the producers.

As Jamie said: “If you are coming to Australia from a different country or even if you just don’t know the food scene, the ability to form relationships with the producers and the people who are bringing your beautiful products alive is really important. It can be very daunting as a food business owner to enter a scene like this with a thousand forklifts in your face. So it makes a huge difference to be able to understand how it all works here at Sydney Markets, and where to go to for your specialist products because we are dealing with many different cultures. We’ve got a Racha Syrian Kitchen doing Syrian food, someone doing Malaysian food, we’ve got Mexican, tamales and African food as well. So, it’s a real hotch-potch of culture here!

“To them, our partnership with Sydney Markets means they can fast track what can often take years to form relationships with the producers.”

FoodLAB provides a range of technical assistance including connecting entrepreneurs to accountants, branding specialists, website designers and wholesale producers. It’s in the process of fitting out a custom-built kitchen which will enable its entrepreneurs to get access to commercial equipment necessary to scale their businesses at really affordable rates.

“It means the First Nation, migrants and refugee business owners can make financial decisions that will give them economic independence, hope, and freedom of choice in a country where they’ve come to find safety,” Jamie added. “I think that’s really meaningful.”

Racha Abou Alchamat from Racha Syrian Kitchen

For Syrian chef Racha Abou Alchamat, sharing classic Syrian cuisine such as delicious Chickpea Fatteh and Cheese Ma’amoul is her biggest reminder of home.

Ever since Racha migrated from Damascus to Sydney in 2015, she has been sharing the culinary traditions and food from her home with the local community. To start with, it was through school fetes and in 2017 she launched her catering business Racha Syrian Kitchen .

Now, thanks to the partnership between FoodLAB and the Sydney Markets, Racha is a familiar face at the Markets. “Since the partnership began, I’ve started doing cooking demonstrations here and I’ve got a pass to come in the morning to pick all my fruit and vegetables.”

Much of Racha’s inspiration came from her parents who both cooked in restaurants.

“When I came to Australia, I was looking for Syrian food, but I couldn’t find anything and that’s what gave me the idea of sharing authentic cuisine from home,” Racha adds.

Racha’s vision is to continue to build her catering business and take part in more pop up food events. “I would also like to do more collaborations with restaurants where you cook for 40 to 50 people. Then more people can try Syrian food which is very different for them, and they meet new people too.

Alick Malewa runs African Food Feasts

Alick Malewa from African Food Feasts has been sharing the traditional cuisine from his homeland of Zimbabwe since he first arrived in Australia in 2006.

“I love African food because it’s really spicy,” says Alick, who owns African Food Feasts, which offers rich and diverse selection of dishes inspired by the vibrant cultures of Africa.

“My favourite dish is Sadza with sour milk and a bit of sugar. It’s a real comfort food and it’s something I grew up eating when I was a kid.

“Australians are not familiar with the food I grew up with and it’s wonderful to show people what African food is really like from places such as Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana. “That’s why I enjoy doing cooking demonstrations and African Food evenings at Paddy’s Markets.”

Melinda Essey from The Messey Table

Melinda Essey from The Messey Table has never looked back since she swapped life as a copywriter to pursue her dream of running her own food business – a decision she boldly made at the age of 40. For her, the partnership between the FoodLAB and Sydney Markets has been a ‘gamechanger’.

“I’ve been doing cooking demonstrations for Sydney Markets and even went on Ch7’s Morning Show and Weekend Sunrise and Studio Ten. For me, that’s amazing. I get to talk about my passion for food. If it wasn’t for the partnership, I would never have had the opportunity to do that.”

Melinda said there are barriers to making your mark in the Sydney food industry and having the support of both FoodLAB and the Sydney Markets has helped enormously by providing her new opportunities.

“It’s helped create a pathway for me and is the most inclusive community I’ve met. I can’t speak more highly of the FoodLAB and the support I’ve had from Sydney Markets.”

Melinda specialises in taking seasonal fruit and vegetables and preserving it. “At the moment, I’m making a lot of marmalade,” she quipped.

About FoodLAB

FoodLAB Sydney focuses on supporting refugees, migrants, Aboriginal Australians and low-income entrepreneurs by offering affordable kitchen space, industry-specific resources, mentoring and sales opportunities. Since launching in 2019, FoodLAB’s vision is to create a vibrant, local and inclusive food system driven by entrepreneurs from high-barrier backgrounds doing what they love to do and achieving financial security.They recently announced a new commercial shared kitchen in Strathfield, Sydney, that will act as a co-working space for its refugee and migrant entrepreneurs to scale. The not-for-profit kitchen incubator has released a public crowdfunding campaign, seeking generous individuals and companies to help fund the equipment so they can open the kitchen. Their campaign can be found here: https://chuffed.org/project/foodlabkitchen

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robyn Foyster is the owner and publisher of the lifestyle websites TheCarousel.com, GameChangers.com.au and WomenLoveTech.com. She is the only person to edit and publish Australia's three biggest flagship magazines - The Australian Women's Weekly, Woman's Day and New Idea. Robyn was Group Publisher of Bauer Media's most successful and prestigious magazines including Woman's Day, Good Health, Grazia and ran Hearst in Australia including Harper’s BAZAAR, Cosmopolitan and madison. Voted one of B&T's 30 Most Powerful Women In Media at the Women in Media Awards Robyn was a keynote speaker at Pause 2021, Cebit & J&J Women In Leadership. Robyn was also the winner of the prestigious Magazine Publisher Association’s Editor of the Year award.

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Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet

Enjoy a delicious and educational multicultural dinner banquet and support retraining refugees! Also available as a private event.

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Support Sydney Refugees With This Epic New Dinner Series

By Rebecca Mitchell

16th Mar 2021

Like your supper with a side of goodwill?

A brand new dining experience in Sydney is showcasing the talents of refugee chefs in an effort to support refugee and asylum seeker-led businesses. The series of special dinners will give you the chance to enjoy a specially-curated three-course meal of delicacies from Sri Lanka, Syria, or Ethiopia.

The premiere event, set to take place on Thursday 1 April, will be a Syrian feast created by chefs and caterers Racha and Nidal from Racha's Syrian Kitchen (just look at these spreads !). This event has now sold out—but don't worry. In the events to-come, diners can expect to discover menus by Sydney-based Sri Lankan caterer Bavan Foods (whom you may recognise from their former Marrickville Market stall), and Wollongong-based Ethiopian Cuisines.

The private dinners will take place at various venues and kitchens around Sydney. Tickets will be priced between $80 - $100 (the first is $85), and your ticket includes the three-course meal and a glass of wine upon arrival.

This series of " Social Suppers " is an initiative of Welcome Merchant , an organisation working to assist and elevate the voices of refugee and asylum seeker entrepreneurs from around Australia. Along with the curated dining program, Welcome Merchant is also set to deliver a series of cooking classes this year.

Sixty percent of ticket sales from both Social Suppers and cooking classes (expected to be priced around $140) will go toward supporting the participating chefs, with the remaining 40% set to go towards overheads and the ongoing services of Welcome Merchant.

Welcome Merchant currently offers a handy list of refugee-run and allied businesses on their website and hopes to provide support for refugee and asylum seeker-led organisations to make them more profitable, valuable, and sustainable.

Among their assisted organisations is Aunty’s Ginger Tonic , a non-alcoholic, health-focused drinks brand founded by Sierra Leonean woman Yarrie Bungara. “Having a platform like Welcome Merchant helps to showcase that we’re building lives in Australia, providing jobs for others, making things Australians need,” Yarried shared. “We can showcase our talent and our ability to contribute to society.”

Newtown MP Jenny Leong is also a fan of Welcome Merchant and attended the launch of their Social Supper series earlier this year.

“During this pandemic and during this crisis, the people that have actually been the hardest hit by the kinds of changes that have happened have been those people that have gotten absolutely no government support,” she said at the event. “If there was ever a time for us to be supporting refugee-powered businesses in our community, now is that time.”

For more info, jump over here . 

THE DETAILS

What: Welcome Merchant Social Supper Series When: Thursday 1 April now sold out, head here for future dates Where: Various venues in Sydney

Now, check out 10 of the best Greek restaurants in Sydney . 

Image credit: Louis Hansel

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Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet

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Time Out says

This heartwarming feast celebrates the flavours and stories of refugee chefs

If you like your dinner with a side of goodwill, then you’ll want to check out Local Sauce Tours’ monthly Refugee Chef Dinner Banquet . Held at Newtown’s social enterprise café, Parliament on King , this feel-good feast will give you the chance to taste delicious dishes from a variety of cuisines, all the while supporting Australia’s talented refugees and asylum seekers.

So, how does it work? Each month’s banquet will shine a light on one different chef, cuisine and menu, which is often kept a surprise until the night. Prepare your palate for a diverse culinary adventure as you experience two or three dishes from the homelands of asylum seekers and refugees from countries like Burma, Iraq, Palestine and Nepal.

The Refugee Chef Dinner Banquets will warm your heart in more than one way. Throughout the evening, the chefs are invited to share personal stories of their journey to Australia and  their connection to food, with guests encouraged to ask questions and learn more about their inspiring narratives. Your dinner dollars will go the extra mile too, as all proceeds go directly towards Parliament on King’s work supporting refugees by providing real work, training and community.

Running monthly until November, the Banquets will be hosted in Parliament on King’s cosy front room and seats are limited to 14 people per night. You’ll want to get in quickly as the dinners have a track record of selling out. Tickets cost $70 per person, which includes a three-course dinner and a welcome drink – wine, beer or soft drink – with additional booze available for purchase. We reckon it’s worth every dollar knowing that your feast will make a difference in the lives of Australia’s refugee and asylum seeker community. The team can cater for most dietary requirements with a heads up, too. 

This new social impact café donates meals to vulnerable Afghans

Here are the sydney restaurants changing the world for the better, support these other refugee-run businesses in sydney.

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Taste of Afghanistan, Syria & Iran Walking Tour

On Sydney Weekender, we love to bring you the best restaurants in Sydney, and around NSW. But why eat at just one restaurant, when you can go on a whole food tour!

Merrylands, in Sydney’s western suburbs, is a cultural melting pot, and the best way to experience the suburb’s ‘foodie’ delights, is to jump on board with Taste Cultural Food Tours . Talented local guides will take you on a culinary tour of Syria, Afghanistan and Iran , via local restaurants, cafes, and bakeries. Not only will you get to taste delicious flavours, from these fascinating countries, you’ll also hear incredible cultural stories, and stories from refugees who have made Australia their home. Highlights of the 3.5 hour tour include Afghan bread and dumplings, street food dishes, and saffron ice cream!

Taste Cultural Food Tours also offer a range of other local tours, in Lakemba, Harris Park, Cabramatta, Chinatown and Barangaroo. Plus, profits from the tours also go toward supporting diverse communities, including refugees, migrants and youth through training and employment opportunities. So “eat for good” and hop on a tour!

FOR MORE INFO Taste Cultural Food Tours Inc. @ tastefoodtours tastetours.com.au Taste of Afghanistan, Syria & Iran Tour – Merrylands Available mid-April onwards (Ramadan)

Taste of Ramadan – Lakemba Night Markets Available March & April only

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5 standout refugee initiatives that harness the cultural power of food

Food brings people together, creates conversations and crosses cultural boundaries and here's how you can get involved..

Women of Syrian background preparing traditional dishes as Community Kitchen chefs. Source: Settlement Services International

1. Share a meal, share a story

It’s important for people from refugee backgrounds to share our stories. People think they’re about being saved but they’re not, they’re about survival.

2. A Tamil feast and low-cost food for refugees

Asylum seekers share stories and food at these weekly feasts

3. Catering, with love

In the kitchen there’s a spirit of friendship it’s a happy place and it’s this that makes everything we make a little more special.

4. Growing and selling fresh food has changed these refugee’s lives

5. a welcoming community lunch in sydney's west.

How chefs are helping refugees rebuild their lives

Beautiful events by women from refugee backgrounds

Sweet saviour for this Afghan refugee

Meet the cafe that donates 100 per cent of its profits to charity

This refugee-camp born chef knows that everything from tough stems to duck blood can be turned into something great

The refugee project serving up work skills and delicious dinners

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Taste of Chinatown – Haymarket, Sydney

Duration: 3 hrs (Sun/Tue/Thu 6-9pm)

Location: Chinatown (Haymarket)

Public tours run on most Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 6pm-9pm For a private tour, please use our contact form: https://tastetours.com.au/private-tour/

What to Expect

Where to meet, discover the history of chinese australians. taste faves from china, korea, & malaysia..

• Sample authentic and modern dishes from China, Korea, and Malaysia enhanced by Aussie ingredients. GF options available
• Visit hidden landmarks celebrating Asian-Australians, and hear the stories of Chinese Settlers, from the first fleet to the gold rush
• Visit 'Peoples Favourite' award winning restaurants, modern Korean fried chicken and Chinatown classics.
• Experience absolute zen in a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, understand the importance of ritual and tradition.
• Talented tour guides with extensive local knowledge, small groups.
• Gluten Free options available. Easy walking with some steps.

Get a sneak peek of a ‘Taste of Chinatown’ tea ceremony.

• Your tour guide will meet you at the corner of Hay St and Dixon St, near the Paifang Gate, Haymarket

3-hour fully guided cultural tasting tour

Generous local food specialty tastings at cafes, restaurants, and food courts.  Chosen because they are award winning, visited by chefs, or local favourites.

Food equivalent to a generous meal (or more)

Tea ceremony and tasting – very zen

Small tour group of up to 12 customers only

• Gluten free options available

On this Sydney tour, you’ll visit hidden landmarks and discover little-known stories from the history of Chinese Australians. Enjoy some of the best of Asian Australian cuisine, with origins from China, Korea, and Malaysia.

With modern fusion and Sydney Chinatown classics, dishes include the best KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), handmade dumplings, and more! Your tour will also include the serenity of a classic Chinese Tea Ceremony, an ancient and beautiful tradition.

You can take a bus or train to Central station and take a short walk to the corner of Hay St and Dixon St, near the Paifang Gate, Haymarket. (Near Emperor’s Puffs)

Have questions? Here's the most frequently asked.

What if i have dietary restrictions or allergies.

Please be sure and let us know if you (or anyone in your group) has a dietary restriction (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic, allergy, etc.) when you purchase your tickets. As long as we know in advance, we may be able to accommodate your needs. We note what allergies that we are not able to manage in the tour descriptions.

Do we only walk around and sample food?

Absolutely not! Our tours combine commentary, historical facts, local culture and culinary insight into unique 3-6 hour experiences. You’ll be guided through Sydney’s best kept secret suburbs, eating local artisans’ most delicious foods while learning about food, culture, and history from local guides.

Do you run private tours?

We sure do! Check out our private tour  page!

Do I need to purchase tickets in advance?

Yes, advance ticket purchase is required. Events typically sell out quickly. To maximise your chances of getting the date, time, and number of tickets you prefer, please book well in advance.

What should I bring with me?

You should bring a camera/phone and a small bottle of water. If it’s a sunny day, please bring sunscreen/sunnies/a hat.

You should also bring a healthy appetite! 🙂

Still have questions?    Visit our FAQ page to submit your own

"A brilliant way to experience the different elements of Chinatown in Sydney. Sophie was so personable and full of knowledge about the history of the area and the food was amazing. Excellent value for money and a great way to spend a few hours in town. The tea ceremony was a highlight."

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Traditional stories & recipes have come on long journeys from homes in Afghanistan and Syria.

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Taste of Vietnam – Cabramatta

Enjoy Vietnamese classic dishes in a vibrant world of bright fabrics, tailors, street vendors & jewellers.

Taste of the World – Liverpool

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Taste of Sydney – Barangaroo and The Rocks

Enjoy iconic sights + stories of Sydney's colonial history! Perfect 1st day food walk in Sydney for visitors.

Taste of Aussie Produce – The Horsley Drive

Guided self driving tour: Explore Western Sydney’s produce, from fresh cheese to gelato, local farms and cafes, shopping & more!

Taste of Barangaroo – Private only

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5.0 hrs (Sat 10am-3pm) |   Adults $135, Concession $120

3.5 hrs (Sat 10.30am-2pm) |   Adult $109, Concession $99, Youth $75, Child $60

3.5 hrs (Sun 10.30am-2pm) |   Adult $119, Concession $109, Youth $99, Child $60

3.5 HRS (SAT 10.30AM-2PM) |   Adult $119, Concession $109, Youth $99, Child $60

3.5 hrs (Sun 11am-2.30pm) |   Adult $119, Concession $109, Youth $99, Child $60

3 hrs (Sun/Tue/Thu 6-9pm) |   Adult $119, Concession $109, Youth $99, Child $60

3.5 hrs (M/W/F+ 1.30-5pm) |   Adult $155, Concession $135, Youth $105, Child $85

3 hours |   Students  $75, Student $55, Teacher $0, Teacher $75

2 - 2.5 hours |   Adults (6+ people) $99

What's it like to flee your homeland? A 'refugee camp' in Sydney shows you

"You have one minute to leave your home. What five things will you bring?"

Common sense goes out the window, as I quickly calculate my list: husband, passport, family photos, medications, mobile phone and charger.

Before I can second-guess myself, we're ushered from the room.

Outside, a towering figure awaits. He stands in front of a metal fence — the sole passage to safety.

"Yallah! Yallah!" the man yells, wielding a piece of wood as though it is a weapon.

None of us speak his language but, instinctively, we form a line and offer up our possessions.

There are murmurs, gasps and tiny squeals as he makes his way down the queue.

The lucky ones pass through the border crossing, the others are sent to the back.

The border guard looks at me — cashless, useless — before pointing at my engagement and wedding rings. I don't want to remove them, but what choice do I have?

This is the price for the promise of a better life.

Walking in their shoes

I wasn't standing in a war zone, but rather Western Sydney, as part of Refugee Camp In My Neighbourhood (RCIMN).

It's an interactive tour that's led by refugees and asylum seekers who want Australians to walk in their shoes.

They transform into tour guides and assume roles like 'border guard', sharing their own experiences along the way.

Hundreds of visitors take the tour each year. The majority are school students, health professionals, and people who work with refugees.

In the simulated journey, you experience what it's like to flee your homeland, take a life-threatening boat trip, and be thrust into a detention centre where names are replaced by numbers.

There's also a taste of refugee camp life: squat toilets, scant food provisions, and a hospital tent with barely any medical supplies.

Project coordinator Adama Kamara dreamed up the project more than a decade ago, when she was working at Auburn City Council. The area had one of the highest populations of asylum seekers in Australia.

It was a time, Adama says, when the portrayal of refugees "was not very positive".

"It was getting worse and worse," she recalls. "In our community, people were really angry about that, to the point where [some] people didn't want to be identified as a refugee.

"To me, it's a sign of resilience, that [refugee] experience, but people were worried about how they would be treated."

For Adama, the community's story was akin to her own.

She was born in Sierra Leone, but moved with her family to Australia for her father's university study.

In 1991, civil war broke out in her homeland. It lasted over a decade, and forced more than 450,000 Sierra Leonean refugees to leave the country.

"It also meant that my family wasn't able to return home," Adama explains. "We sought safety here in Australia."

Waking up to war

War is what brought many of the tour guides to Australia's shores.

They've fled different lands — Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Sudan and Sri Lanka are among them — and found different ways to get here.

Some spent years in refugee camps, others were detained in immigration detention for equally long stretches of time.

Ukrainian refugee Oleksandra's story was different.

On February 23, 2022, she had a magical night at the ballet.

"Me and my friends went to the state opera house [in Odesa]," she recalls. "[There] was an amazing performance of the Nutcracker.

"I remember all these costumes, decorations, everything so bright, a lot of diamonds. [It was] so beautiful."

The next morning, the Ukrainian woke up to war.

"The first four days I was in shock," Oleksandra recalls.

"I thought that our presidents will talk with each other and then tomorrow, or maybe a few hours later … I will see news on the TV, [saying] 'That was just an accident, sorry. Everything is over.'"

But there wasn't a retraction or a military backdown. Instead, the fighting escalated.

After those four days, Oleksandra says it sunk in.

"Life stopped. Everything became dull, grey," she says.

"You don't know what to do."

The realities of a refugee camp

There's no rule book for being a refugee.

I went on a RCIMN tour twice — first with a group of year 5 and 6 students, then with teens in year 9 and 10.

Both days, I was struck by the impossible decisions asylum seekers must make.

For instance, sheltering in a refugee camp might seem like the safe option.

But as an Iraqi-born guide named Kathreen tells our group, people without proper identification or money to pay for translators can spend years waiting to be processed.

And the facilities within camps are often hotbeds of disease.

On the tour with the primary school kids, a Sri Lankan guide named Neeraja shows us what a pit toilet looks like.

"Imagine 600 people line up, and going again and again," she says. "How the smell is terrible."

All of our noses wrinkle on cue.

The stench isn't the worst part, of course.

Neeraja, who herself lived in an Indian refugee camp, explains that malaria and diarrhoeal diseases often spread from shared toilets.

According to UNHCR, these diseases along with measles, acute respiratory infections and malnutrition are major causes of morbidity and mortality among refugees.

After our toilet stop, we're led into the medical tent and introduced to Ahmed, a Sudanese man who spent 7.5 years at a refugee camp in Egypt.

Instead of beds, there are camp-style stretchers with mosquito nets overhead.

One stretcher has a hole cut through it and a bucket underneath. This is for patients with diarrhoea, Ahmed explains.

Despite its shortcomings, Ahmed says this medical centre is "much better" than the one he had access to.

"Too many people [are] honestly dying in a refugee camps," he says. "Especially the kids, especially when the mum is delivering the baby."

Unfortunately for Ahmed, these harsh realities can't simply be forgotten.

In 2023, war broke out in Sudan, forcing 8.6 million people, according to the UNHCR, to leave their homes. Among them, were Ahmed's wife, daughter, father and siblings.

"They're in a refugee camp right now," he told me .

"It's not safe to be there, but we don't have any options in our country."

Ahmed is an Australian citizen and hopes his family can be brought here. For now, all he can do is wait.

Living in limbo

Waiting is an experience that Asad knows well.

After fleeing his home in Afghanistan and travelling to Australia by boat, he spent nearly 2,000 days in immigration detention.

When he tells the school children that number, they're wide-eyed, mouths agog.

He paints a picture of life in detention: being woken at six o'clock for room searches, eating the same food day after day, and trying to learn English when your mental health is crumbling.

He tells us how 500 people would gather around the one TV, cheering for the Australian soccer team, only for the match to be switched off mid-way by a guard.

But Asad says the uncertainty affected him the most.

"You don't know what will happen and you don't know when you [will be] released," he says.

"Living in limbo is the hardest thing."

Asad doesn't find it easy sharing his story. It takes him back to "dark days".

But it's his goal to educate people, particularly the next generation.

"Maybe among these young kids, in the future there [will] be a politician," he says. "Maybe they're going to run the country."

"They have to know what's going on with asylum seekers and refugees."

Like Asad, Oleksandra hopes to break the stigma around refugees.

"Some people may be afraid," she says. "They think that we are not educated, we are lazy. [That] we came here and want to seek some support, [and] don't want to do anything."

But that, she points out, is not the case.

Among the guides I spoke to, Oleksandra trained as a psychologist, Ahmed is an engineer, and Asad studied law.

"Desperate people leave their family behind, their homeland and their memories," says Asad. "They have no option."

Oleksandra agrees: "To be a refugee, it's not a choice, it just happens.

"And it could happen to anyone."

Watch Compass tonight at 6:30pm on ABC TV or stream any time on ABC iview . 

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