Interviewed by Eugene Duffy, editor of The Courier, and a guest of Ballarat’s House of Welcome, Mr Moses related to an audience of 16 and 17-year-olds the terrors of being press-ganged into an ‘army’ as a 13-year-old, handed an automatic rifle and told to kill his ‘enemies’.

Mr Moses came to Australia and has pursued his dreams of education ever since. Although he failed Year 12 at his first attempt, he persevered and has now completed a Masters degree in social science.

He hopes to complete a PhD in the near future.

The theme of his conversation with Mr Duffy was on the value of perseverance and never losing hope in a struggle, no matter how hopeless or daunting the circumstances might be.

The conversation ranged across the deaths of some of his comrades, his fleeing the army at the age of 15 and his struggle to find a new home away from the conflict that is still raging in the central African country.

Mr Moses now helps those who have lost their way to regain the path of their lives, be that through schooling, employment or simply reassessing the choices they make.

Carmel Kavanagh of Ballarat’s House of Welcome says the story of Mr Moses is inspiring.

“I probably first came across him as a teenager, because I was working with the family that sponsored him,” said Ms Kavanagh.

“But I met him again just recently through my neighbour who is doing a social work degree at Fed Uni. I was looking for a speaker for Refugee Week back in June, so I asked him then and there.

“The perspective for the talk that he and Eugene gave was that no matter what happens to you in life, you can move on. No matter what has happened in the past, never give up, always keep hope and always keep going.”

The House of Welcome seeks to assist those families and individuals referred to it by assistance and charity groups across Ballarat.