Join Grandmothers for Refugees and Fremantle Library for a talk with poet, filmmaker, educator and activist Ali Reza Yawari, who is a refugee living in Indonesia for over a decade.

Ali is a young Afghan, Hazara man who spent his childhood in Afghanistan before being forced to flee in 2014 at the age of 15. Like many other Hazaras stranded in Indonesia he is the victim of war and systematic persecution in Afghanistan. He is a refugee rights activist who has used his creative talents as a writer, film maker and educator to find hope and to survive in a country where he does not have the right to work or gain an education. Despite ongoing uncertainty, Ali continues to amplify the voices of refugee youth, turning personal hardship into collective resilience and advocacy.

Ali’s films and documentaries have won awards in numerous festivals, exhibitions and competitions. He began writing in 2016, with several of his works being published in online magazines. Lost in the Calm is his first book and contains a collection of his writings over a period of six years. As Ali says “the darkest side of life and the brightest…I have seen them both”. His story is not only one of survival, but of courage, creativity, and resolute belief in dignity and belonging— a rare and deeply human perspective on forced displacement today. Join our conversation with this extraordinary young man.

Grandmothers for Refugees is a nationwide collective of volunteer grandmothers and friends. Their mission is to drive change in Australian government policy regarding asylum seekers, advocating for a compassionate reception, fair assessment of refugee status, proper care, safety, support, and when suitable, a path to permanent residency.

Nibbles and light refreshments provided. Copies of Ali's book will be available to purchase.