Surrey student gives back to the city & school that welcomed him to Canada
Image: Surrey Schools
On World Refugee Day, Surrey Schools is proud to share the story of one student who is new to Canada and striving to make a difference in his school and community.
When it came time to flee Afghanistan two years ago, one of the most difficult things for 17-year-old Sayed Frogh was having to leave his family behind.
It was 2021 and the United States was withdrawing troops, a void that was quickly being filled by the oppressive Taliban regime. Vulnerable Afghan families like Sayed’s were worried about the looming threat of a government collapse and the dissolution of the U.S.-backed Afghan National Army. Being a more progressive family made them a target for the Taliban and its supporters, with Sayed’s sisters working as medical graduates towards becoming doctors, while his father is an ophthalmologist.
In the chaos, and after witnessing incredible mayhem and death, including that of his uncle, Sayed and his aunt fled to Turkey, eventually making their way to Canada through the Afghan special programs for refugees.
Now living in Surrey, Sayed is thriving and giving back to the city and school that welcomed him.
In the two years since his arrival, Sayed has become one of Queen Elizabeth Secondary’s star athletes, winning bronze at this year’s provincial wrestling championships. He’s also helping coach younger wrestlers at Newton’s Takedown Academy.
“I want to give back to the community that helped me,” he said. “Everyone has supported me so much, so I want to to do what I can to help other kids.”
For Sayed, wrestling has become an essential part of his life and provided much-needed stability. Having taken up the sport after arriving in Canada, he is being mentored by former Queen Elizabeth Secondary wrestler Tin Dao, who won the prestigious Loran Scholarship in 2022.
“Wrestling is good because it helps you get stronger and helps keep you away from some of the bad things in the community,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about discipline, and it helped me in school with mental toughness.”
In addition to wrestling, Sayed is also one of the school’s budding kabaddi players.
“He only just picked it up after arriving in Canada and he’s already one of the best players in the school,” said coach Jeremy Lendvoy. “Next year he might very well be one of the best in the district. All of our Afghan students look up to him.
That’s where Lendvoy says Sayed plays such an important role in the school community. Some refugees haven’t taken to their community or athletics like Sayed has.
Sayed at the 2024 BCSS Wrestling Championships (Image: BC School Sports)
“It could be language, they don’t understand, or school might not be going well,” said Sayed. “I try to get some of them to come wrestle or do other things but for some, it’s hard.”
Sayed said he eventually wants to become a dentist – for some of the same reasons he does most everything.
“They get to help people and it is a good profession to be in,” he said. “I want to do something that can keep helping others.”
While he is in sporadic contact with his family in Afghanistan, he remains concerned for their safety after his sisters were forced to stop working once the Taliban took control. He’s hopeful they can eventually join him here.
For now, he’ll continue to be a positive force in his school and community, pushing forward, both on and off the wrestling mat.
