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SOME refugees have no choice to come to Australia any other way than by boat, an asylum seeker has said.
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Thirty two-year-old Reza Poya of Afghanistan said he had to leave his country because his people, the Hazara, are persecuted by the Taliban and Afghani government.
He knows Hazara who have been killed or kidnapped by the Taliban.
"These things are happening every day," he said.
About three years ago Mr Poya, who was on Afghanistan's national team for Taekwondo, left his country and travelled to Indonesia then got on a small boat with 50 other people to get to Australia.
"We don't have a choice to come legally to Australia," he said.
Mr Poya recently visited the Bega Valley with two other refugees, hoping to one day find employment and move to the Valley.
His story is similar to that of 25-year-old Ahmad, a soccer fan who's favourite team is Real Madrid.
Ahmad is also a Hazara of Afghanistan and left his country when he was nine years old then lived in Iran before coming to Australia on a boat from Indonesia.
The third refugee, 31-year-old Mahdi of Iran, served as a soldier for his country then became a tailor like his father.
After five years Mahdi, who loves cooking, owned a successful tailoring business with 15 workers and his own workshop.
We found our own way here but we need people to look at us like normal people.
However, while he would not elaborate, he said he had a "big problem" with a powerful group in Iran, so because he felt unsafe he sold everything he owned and looked for a way to travel to Australia.
The three refugees have all spent time in detention centres and are now on bridging visas, so are uncertain if they will be granted permanent residency in Australia.
Mahdi said he did not want people to look at refugees as poor people who do not have an education.
"We come from poor countries so sometimes people give us $10 – like we are begging," he said.
"We came to Australia and it was a very long and dangerous trip.
"We found our own way here but we need people to look at us like normal people."
Instead of donating food or money to refugees, invite them to dinner as friends, he said.
Mr Poya said perhaps some Australians are afraid of refugees settling in their country because they have not had enough experience around them.
