Ali is from Afghanistan, one of the most publicised countries in the world, for all of the wrong reasons. Afghanistan, where over 99% of the population are Muslim, connects Central Asia and the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent. Since 1970, and most notoriously during the peak of the Taliban reign, there has been a constant state of war, which has had a massive impact on migration. Dandenong is now home to a large Afghan community, many children having been born in one of the many refugee camps in the neighbouring country of Pakistan. Life expectancy in Afghanistan (as of 2008) is just 43 years of age, with approximately 14 children dying every half an hour. Alarmingly, only 12% of Afghan women can read.

Ali is currently in Year 6 in a Dandenong primary school. He has a passion for all competition, and is an avid AFL supporter. His hero is Gary Ablett Jrn,  he even shifted his allegiance from Geelong to the Gold Coast before the 2011 season. After 3 games he decided to switch back to Geelong, but Ablett remains his favourite player. When Ali meets a new person the first thing he says is always, “which AFL team do you go for?”