Asif Sultani

About Asif

Asif Sultani has been supporting UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, since 2018 when he became an International Olympic Committee Refugee Athlete Scholarship holder.

Over the past couple of years, Asif has collaborated with UNHCR on multiple occasions, from World Refugee Day online campaigns, to featuring in UNHCR’s short film ‘The Journey’. Asif also has experience fundraising and volunteering for UNHCR, working with key UNHCR partners in Australia, and is a compelling and inspiring public speaker with international media experience.

Originally from Afghanistan, Asif was only seven years old when he was first forced to flee to neighboring Iran due to ongoing war, conflict, and persecution within his homeland. Unfortunately, in Iran, Asif continued to experience hardship through daily discrimination that threatened his safety. This threat led Asif to learn Martial Arts for self-defense, and as his abilities grew, he became increasingly passionate about the sport. At just 16 years of age, Asif found himself in a leaky boat in search of Australia. Skip ahead a few years, in 2018 Asif became an International Olympic Committee Refugee Scholarship holder, where he hoped to represent millions of displaced people around the world. While he didn’t end up making it to the Olympics, Asif learnt a lot along the way - from working as a disability support worker, running his own private personal training business, and his latest passion; motivational speaking.

Asif says the determination for building the life he cherishes today goes back to the life he knew as a child – the life of a refugee. Asif is an incredible advocate for refugees, and a true storyteller, who inspires everyone he speaks with to never give up on their dreams.  

“If only I can create my dreams, then only I can crush them”.