Finalist Dr Ahmad Sarmast
By LIA SPENCER
AN AFGHAN refugee, who has a passion for music and commitment to peace, has been named a finalist in the Victoria Australian of the Year Awards.
Dr Ahmad Sarmast is a refugee who fled civil war in Afghanistan and now uses music as a unifying force to break down social, political, religious and ethnic barriers in his war-torn homeland.
Driven by his passion, Dr Sarmast established the Afghanistan National Institute of Music in Kabul to promote peace and build democracy. He travels back to Afghanistan often where he encounters the physical dangers of working in a conflict zone, including being trapped by crossfire, as well as entrenched prejudice. A documentary on him, called Dr. Sarmast’s Music School, aired on ABC television over two weeks in July.
Dr Sarmast’s music school empowers Afghan children and orphans, regardless of class, ethnicity or gender, through education, literacy and music. It also nurtures inter-cultural connections between Afghan musicians and students and their counterparts in Australia and around the world.
“I have a strong belief in the power of music. It’s not just entertainment; it’s a strong force for social change and economy development,” Dr Sarmast said.
“The national institute of music is not only about education and specialist music, but also makes a great impact on social and cultural life in Afghanistan. On a small scale, we are contributing to a civil society in Afghanistan.”
Dr Sarmast said he was excited, yet humbled, by being named one of four finalists in the Victorian Australian of the Year Awards.
The Victorian Australian of the Year as well as the Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero Awards, will be announced at a special event in Melbourne on Thursday 22 November at the Arts Centre Melbourne.
The Victorian award recipients will join recipients from the other states and territories as finalists for the national awards, which will be announced on 25 January 2013 in Canberra.
National Australia Day Council program director Tam Johnston said the Victorian finalists reflected the qualities admired by the public who nominated them for this year’s awards.
“The Victorian finalists show a wide cross section of committed Australians making differences in their local community, Australia wide and throughout the world,” said Ms Johnston.
The Commonwealth Bank has been the major sponsor of the Australian of the Year Awards for more than 30 years. Chief executive officer Ian Narev congratulated the Victorian finalists.
“On behalf of the Commonwealth Bank, I congratulate all 132 state and territory finalists in the 2013 Australian of the Year Awards. To emerge as a finalist from the thousands of nominated Australians is a great achievement. I wish you all the best of luck in the next stage of the program,” Mr Narev said.
For more information on the Australian of the Year Awards visit www.australianoftheyear.org.au.
