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We hear about the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan in 2014. Brian Hioe, an activist who occupied Parliament in Taipei, recalls the events.We hear from Nino Zuriashvili, one of the protesters at the Rose Revolution in Georgia in 2003. And Prof Kasia Boddy, author of Blooming Flowers: A Seasonal History of Plants and People explains how flowers have been used as symbols in political history.Plus, the Afghan refugee who fled as a 15 year old. Waheed Arian, a doctor and former Afghan refugee describes his perilous journey.We look at the Yellow Fleet of ships, which were stranded in the Suez Canal for eight years. Phil Saul, who looked after the engineers and officers on board the MS Melampus and MS Agapenor in the Suez Canal, recounts his experiences.Finally, the story of the British afro hair care institution Dyke and Dryden. We hear from Rudi Page, the former marketing manager for Dyke and Dryden's afro hair products.Presenter: Max Pearson(Photo: An activist taking part in the Sunflower Movement in Taipei on 21 March 2014. Credit: Mandy Cheng/AFP)
In 1999, Waheed Arian left his family in Afghanistan to seek refuge in the UK. He was just 15.He was escaping violence, poverty and the threat of being recruited as a child soldier. He tells Vicky Farncombe about how a dream of one day becoming a doctor sustained him. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic' and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy's Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they've had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America's occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.(Photo: Dr Waheed Arian as a child. Credit: Dr Waheed Arian)
An ageing population, political turmoil, and staff shortages. These are just three of the issues facing the NHS today as it recovers from a global pandemic, and it's hard to see how it will take on these issues and more in the next few years. Our expert panel will discuss the future of the NHS, the problems it is currently having to deal with and what new challenges may arise in the coming decade, and most importantly, how it might go about tackling those issues. On the panel is Dr Waheed Arian, an emergency medicine doctor based in Chester. He has been recognised with several awards for his innovation and humanitarian work, including awards from the United Nations, UNESCO and UK Prime Minister. Joined with Stephanie Snow, Professor of Health, History and Policy at the University of Manchester and has directed NHS at 70: The Story of Our Lives since 2017, creating the first digital archive of NHS history.
Ruth Robertson sits down with Dr Waheed Arian, who shares his journey of leaving Afghanistan as a refugee, becoming an NHS doctor and founding two organisations which use technology to overcome barriers in health care. In this episode, Waheed delves into the importance of hope, compassion and mentors during times of adversity. Related resources Digital health and care conference (in-person event) What is compassionate leadership? (explainer)
August was filled with perspective changing and vulnerable conversations about what high performance really looks like. Jake takes a look back at some of the key insights from our guests over the last month.Dr Waheed Arian challenged Jake's ever-shifting view of what high performance really means, by sharing the obstacles he overcame when moving from war torn Afghanistan to the UK at age 15 to become a doctor. Jake and Damian discussed how our biggest mistakes can make for our greatest achievements, with comedian Katherine Ryan.Formula 1 legend Fernando Alonso opened up about the true price of high performance, and Jake learns what Fernando would do differently a second time around. Our final guest of the month, Peter Attia, changed Jake's outlook on life with his idea of the centenarian decathlon.Listen to the episodes mentioned:Dr Waheed Arian: https://pod.fo/e/1ae402Katherine Ryan: https://pod.fo/e/1df492Fernando Alonso: https://pod.fo/e/1e5849Peter Attia: https://pod.fo/e/1e7be5 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. Waheed Arian, a doctor and radiologist, endured a challenging upbringing in war-torn Afghanistan, and at 15, he was smuggled to the UK. He had a singular ambition: to become a doctor. In a heartfelt conversation with Jake and Damian, he candidly reveals the harsh realities of living amongst bombings and military presence. He recounts visiting his father in hiding, who sought to evade front-line military service.Such traumatic experiences have shaped Waheed's character, instilling vital lessons he carries to this day. He shares with Jake and Damian the key lessons he learnt from his childhood and how he still carries them with him. The loss of childhood innocence early on forged a determined mindset, focused on supporting and caring for his family. Throughout the darkest times, his dream of becoming a doctor served as a lifeline.Waheed discusses the moment of kindness that changed his life, the importance of responsibility and how we can find meaning in what we do.Download The High Performance App by clicking the link below and using the code: HPAPP https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com/app-link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode is part of a mini series exploring forced displacement as one of the many legacies of conflict. Alice interviews Dr Waheed Arian, author of In the Wars – an autobiography, published in 2021, which narrates his journey of forced migration from Afghanistan to the UK. Dr Arian was born in Kabul in 1983 and his childhood was dominated by the Soviet-Afghan war. His family spent years fleeing the fighting, especially after his father was conscripted into the army, and they took the difficult decision in 1988 to escape to Pakistan, which involved a hazardous mountain journey, dodging terrifying air strikes. Their cramped, difficult living conditions in a refugee camp in Pakistan resulted in Dr Arian becoming seriously ill, with a combination of malnutrition, malaria and tuberculosis. That experience – and the medical care he received – inspired him to start dreaming of becoming a doctor. Dr Arian and his family returned to Kabul when Soviet forces withdrew from Afghanistan; but civil war rapidly broke out, and as the Taliban's grip on power increased, his parents became increasingly concerned that he would be recruited to fight, so they arranged for him to travel to the UK. He was fifteen years old, and on arrival as a refugee he was immediately imprisoned and sent to the Feltham Young Offender Institute. Against all the odds, Dr Arian learnt English, took on multiple jobs in shops and restaurants, and studied in the evenings, gaining the A-levels required to read Medicine at the University of Cambridge. From there, he became a doctor, specialising in radiology, and he now works on the front line in A&E in the NHS. Aware of the ongoing need for more medical support and training in Afghanistan, Dr Arian has set up a charity called Arian Teleheal, which enables volunteer medics based in the UK to advise medical colleagues in Afghanistan and elsewhere, using smart phones, social media and other every-day technologies. Motivated by his personal experiences of trauma and PTSD, he has also developed Arian Wellbeing, a telemedicine project focused on providing culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed care for patients who struggle to access mental health services, particularly refugees. Dr Arian has become a powerful advocate for refugees in the UK, and he has been recognised for his charity work by multiple organisations, including a UN Global Hero Award in 2017, a Rotary International Peace Award in 2018, and the UK Prime Minister's Points of Light Award in 2018. In the podcast, we discuss Dr Arian's journey towards self-healing, via the work that he does helping others. He outlines the vital need for more holistic care to support refugees' physical, mental and social needs. We discuss the power of care and compassion; the day-to-day contributions made by refugees in their new communities; and the right that everyone has to safety, to a normal, settled life, and to hopes and dreams. Like his book In the Wars, Dr Arian's conversation offers moving insights into refugee experiences, critical analysis of current support systems, and powerful truths about refugee rights. We hope you enjoy the episode. To find out more about our wider project on Visualising Forced Migration, please visit our website. If you have any questions or want to contribute to our ongoing discussions, please do get in touch. You can follow us on social media or contact us directly by emailing us at viswar@st-andrews.ac.uk. We look forward to hearing from you! Our theme music was composed by Jonathan Young. The show was mixed by Zofia Guertin.
War and extreme poverty drive millions of people from their homes every year. Some of them try to reach the rich Western world, where such inward migration routinely prompts fear and draconian counter-measures. Stephen Sackur interviews Waheed Arian, who fled war in Afghanistan as a child, made it to the UK and is now a doctor running his own medical charity. Do perceptions change when the story of migration is personalised?
To welcome in the new year, we look back at the people behind the prose that we've featured in 2022. In part two of two, we listen back to some of our favourite interviews with authors NoViolet Bulawayo, Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer, Waheed Arian and Andrei Kurkov.
Dr Waheed Arian arrived alone in the UK aged 15 as an Afghan refugee, he's now an NHS doctor and author. He gives Radio 5 Live's Clare McDonnell his view on the issues at Manston migrant centre.
Dr Waheed Arian is a radiologist who set up a charity called Arian Teleheal in 2015. The charity enables volunteer doctors in the west to advise colleagues in conflict zones using smartphone technology. The charity has helped save many lives in countries including Syria, Uganda and Afghanistan where Waheed was born. In 1988, at the height of the Soviet-Afghan conflict, Waheed and his family fled Kabul for Pakistan where they lived in a refugee camp for the next few years. Waheed was just five when they arrived there and contracted tuberculosis. The doctor who saved his life planted a dream and Waheed decided that one day he would study medicine. When he was 15 Afghanistan was in the grip of the Taliban and Waheed and his parents knew it was only a matter of time before he would be recruited to join their fight. Waheed's family found someone who, for a fee, offered to help him leave the country and claim refugee status in the UK. He arrived in the UK in 1999, studied A levels while working in a number of jobs and then in 2003 took up a place to read medicine at Cambridge University. In 2014 he began training as a radiologist and currently works in the A&E department at a busy NHS hospital. In 2017 he won a UN Global Hero Award for his charity work. DISC ONE: Lose Yourself by Eminem DISC TWO: Gule Sori by Farhad Darya DISC THREE: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor DISC FOUR: Never Enough by Loren Allred DISC FIVE: Home by Michael Bublé DISC SIX: Fly by Celine Dion DISC SEVEN: Are You Ready for Love by Elton John DISC EIGHT: Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish BOOK CHOICE: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by Bryan Mealer and William Kamkwamba LUXURY ITEM: Pen and paper CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Fly by Celine Dion Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinley
Ali Jones is talking to our best-loved creatives about how they caught their breaks. This week Ali chats to a British doctor and radiologist, Dr Waheed Arian. Waheed was born in Afghanistan, lived as a refugee in Pakistan, and is the founder of telemedicine charity Arian Teleheal which links up local doctors in warzones with medical experts around the world. Waheed tells Ali how his own tuberculosis diagnosis as a kid led him to becoming a doctor, why we should ignore the odds, and why he once couldn't believe people talk about washing their dogs. This WDIAGR episode is sponsored by YunoJuno Freelance Marketplace.
Born in Afghanistan, Waheed Arian has lived in a refugee camp, sheltered in cellars from a civil war, and endured malaria, TB and malnutrition. After being incarcerated in Britain as an illegal immigrant, he went on to become a doctor and now runs a global telemedicine charity, working with clinicians on the ground in developing countries. He tells Georgina Godwin his story, which is documented in his book ‘In the Wars: From Afghanistan to the UK and Beyond – a Refugee's Story of Survival and Saving Lives'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Born in Afghanistan, Waheed Arian has lived in a refugee camp, sheltered in cellars from a civil war, and endured malaria, TB and malnutrition. After being incarcerated in Britain as an illegal immigrant, he went on to become a doctor and now runs a global telemedicine charity, working with clinicians on the ground in developing countries. He tells Georgina Godwin his story, which is documented in his book ‘In the Wars: From Afghanistan to the UK and Beyond – a Refugee's Story of Survival and Saving Lives'.
Dr Waheed Arian, a former refugee from Afghanistan, now an A&E doctor, wanted to hear stories from other people like him. He is working to help improve the accessibility of mental health services for refugees like himself. One of the people he spoke to was Nataliia from Ukraine, who arrived in the UK along with her six-year-old daughter a couple of months ago.
As we've watched the war in Ukraine unfold, we've seen huge crowds of people queuing at the border, dragging small suitcases, carrying babies and children, leaving their homeland behind. Dr Waheed Arian knows what it's like to be forced to leave your home, suddenly, and under fire; he's a refugee from an earlier war, the Soviet-Afghan War, which lasted for almost ten years and claimed the lives of as many as two million Afghan civilians. Five million people are estimated to have left the country as refugees, and Waheed Arian was one of them. In 1988, at the age of five, he escaped on horseback from Afghanistan to Pakistan, arriving at a refugee camp on the North-West frontier. In the camp he almost died from malnutrition, malaria and TB. But – just in time - he managed to get medical treatment, and the doctor who treated him inspired an ambition to be a doctor himself. Dr Waheed Arian is now an A and E doctor in the NHS and he has founded a pioneering medical charity, Arian Teleheal. He has received many awards for his work, and has written about his life in a vivid memoir, “In the Wars”. In a moving conversation with Michael Berkeley, Waheed describes the dangerous journey that brought him to Britain, where he was at first imprisoned in Feltham Young Offenders Institution. He reveals how he fulfilled his early ambition to become a doctor, despite having had almost no schooling. And he chooses music which takes him back to childhood, watching Bollywood films with his family, and to his early years in Britain, when he was befriended by an old woman who played Schubert to him. Other choices include music by Charlie Chaplin, and a song by Ahmad Wali, who like Waheed fled Afghanistan. Produced by Elizabeth Burke A Loftus Media Production for BBC Radio 3.
Dr Waheed Arian spent his early childhood in Kabul, Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan conflict. He and his family would often hide in cellars to escape the fighting and they were soon forced to flee to a refugee camp in Pakistan. He contracted tuberculosis and during his treatment was inspired by a doctor who gave him his first ever medical textbook and a stethoscope. Aged 15, he arrived alone in the UK and worked three jobs while studying. His hard work earned him a place to study medicine at Cambridge University, but his ambitions hung in the balance as the trauma and memories of his early life came back to haunt him. He's written a book about his life called In the Wars and his charity is called Arian Teleheal. Precious objects or artworks are at risk of theft, vandalism, even terror attacks in some cases. Protecting them is quite a task. Outlook's Alessia Cerantola went to meet one of the people doing just that - an Italian man called Alessandro Goppion who's been given the job of protecting some of the most valuable objects in the world, including the Mona Lisa painting. This report was first broadcast in February 2018. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Dr Waheed Arian Credit: Dr Waheed Arian
Dr Waheed Arian spent his early childhood in Kabul, Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan conflict. He and his family would often hide in cellars to escape the fighting and they were soon forced to flee to a refugee camp in Pakistan. He contracted tuberculosis and during his treatment was inspired by a doctor who gave him his first ever medical textbook and a stethoscope. Aged 15, he arrived alone in the UK and worked three jobs while studying. His hard work earned him a place to study medicine at Cambridge University, but his ambitions hung in the balance as the trauma and memories of his early life came back to haunt him. He's written a book about his life called In the Wars and his charity is called Arian Teleheal. Precious objects or artworks are at risk of theft, vandalism, even terror attacks in some cases. Protecting them is quite a task. Outlook's Alessia Cerantola went to meet one of the people doing just that - an Italian man called Alessandro Goppion who's been given the job of protecting some of the most valuable objects in the world, including the Mona Lisa painting. This report was first broadcast in February 2018. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Dr Waheed Arian Credit: Dr Waheed Arian
Dr Waheed Arian is an Afghan refugee, leading radiologist and recently announced as the UK's Best Doctor at The Sun's Who Cares Wins awards. He joined Rachel and Alice in the studio to discuss how he fled Afghanistan arriving in Britain illegally and alone at 15, self-schooled his way out of a youth detention centre and into Cambridge University to study medicine and how he set-up his own charity providing phone consultations to the sick in war zones.Get The Times free for a month: thetimes.co.uk/pastimperfectArian Teleheal: www.arianteleheal.comRefugee Action: www.refugee-action.org.ukBritish Medical Association: www.bmacharities.org.ukThis podcast has been produced in association with Speakers for Schools: www.speakersforschools.orgProducer: Ben Mitchell Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Waheed Arian spent his childhood fleeing the war zones of Afghanistan. After recovering from an almost fatal illness at a Pakistan refugee camp as a child, he set his sights on becoming a doctor. Putting his life in the hands of people smugglers, Waheed eventually reached the UK and studied medicine at Cambridge. He now saves lives as an NHS A&E medic and is the founder of charity, TeleHEAL, providing volunteer medical support to people around the world. His book, In the Wars is out now.
Dr Waheed has a remarkable story to tellFull length podcast episodes are found on “The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast” and the cookbooks plus weekly recipes are on the website www.thedoctorskitchen.com But here, for a few minutes a day enjoy short snippets of information about flavour as well as function & how delicious food can be enjoyable and health promoting too. I'll see you in The Daily Doctor's kitchen Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.
President Joe Biden has again addressed the American people about the withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying continuing a military presence would not enhance the safety and security of America. The US 20 year military involvement came to an end yesterday with the final flight out of Kabul airport, leaving chaos and an unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The aid agencies Medicins Sans Frontiere and the Red Cross are warning Afghanistan's healthcare system is at risk of collapse, and foreign donors have stopped providing aid since the Taliban takeover. Kathryn speaks with Afghan born British doctor Waheed Arian, who fled to the UK when he was just 15, during the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s.He studied medicine at Cambridge University, works as a NHS radiologist, as well as running Arian Teleheal, a global charity connecting specialists all over the world with doctors in warzones.
Richard Spurr, in for Andrew Pierce, talks to Professor Scott Lucas on what Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan will mean for him, America and the world, and talks to former refugee Dr Waheed Arian on what awaits people still in the country. Plus, are you falling victim to 'calorie creep'? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dr Waheed Arian joins me to share his incredible journey to be one of the most influential doctors in the UK from beginnings in war-torn Afghanistan.In this episode, we discuss ambition, hope, healing past traumas, inspiration, giving, generosity and compassion and moving the needle of progress.To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Today's guest is a true hero.Dr. Waheed Arian is an NHS A&E doctor. His pioneering charity, Arian Teleheal, works directly with clinicians on the ground, and provides governments and global organizations with a blueprint for delivering innovative healthcare and education.Dr. Arian has been recognized as a UNESCO Global Hope Hero, a UN Global Goals Goalkeeper, an NHS Innovation Mentor, and was appointed to the WHO Roster of Digital Health Experts in 2019. In the UK, he has been awarded the Rotary International Peace Award and the prime minister's Points of Light Award. His new autobiography, In the Wars, is out in September. I got an early read, and I can only recommend you get familiar with Waheed's story as it is incredibly inspiring.Listen as we discuss:Arian Teleheal, Waheed's medical charity that has helped save over 700 lives.Addressing the problem of lack of medical expertise on the ground in conflict nations.The power of smartphones to connect and solve problems.The true connections created between the doctors across borders.How Waheed spent his free time while visiting family in Afghanistan understanding medical challenges.Happiness lies in giving, and that's what drives Waheed.Waheed's difficult childhood in Afghanistan during the Soviet conflict.How he became inspired to go to school and become a doctor.The determination and drive to help people will pay you back.How his family deals with his globetrotting and heavy work.his journey dealing with PTSD.Waheed's Wars BBC featureI'll just say it again: Waheed is my hero.Instagram: @mo_gawdatFacebook: @mo.gawdat.officialTwitter: @mgawdatLinkedIn: /in/mogawdatWebsite: mogawdat.com/podcastConnect with Dr. Waheed Arian on Facebook @DrWaheedArian, Instagram @DrWaheedArian, Twitter @DrWaheedArian, and their website, drwaheedarian.comDon't forget to subscribe to Slo Mo for new episodes every Sunday and Thursday. Only with your help can we reach One Billion Happy #onebillionhappyMy new book, Scary Smart, is releasing September 30. Pre-order your copy here.
Dr Waheed Arian - In the Wars: A story of conflict, survival and saving lives... with TRE's Selina MacKenzie
Today you will listen to one of the most incredible stories. So much so that it genuinely sounds as unbelievable as the plot of a Hollywood movie. Such is the journey of my friend and colleague Dr Waheed Arian.Born and raised in Afghanistan, Waheed's childhood was spent fleeing from conflict. As early as the age of 5, he and his family fled their hometown in Kabul for the refugee camps of Pakistan taking the treacherous journey through the harsh terrain whilst dodging bombs and the Taliban. Once reaching the camps his family had to battle malaria, TB without proper access to medicine and healthcare.Littered with these experiences and genuinely fearing for his life. Waheed managed to escape Afghanistan leaving his family in Kabul at the age of 15 before he would have been conscripted by the Taliban to fight. He managed to find safety in the UK. He started work in multiple low wage jobs in the London area, sending his earnings back to support his family in the war zones. He decided to formally learn english, complete his A and AS levels. Applied to medicine and through sheer determination managed to achieve a place at Cambridge. He completed his clinical work at Imperial, which is where myself and Waheed crossed paths in the same year group. He did an elective at Harvard.If none of this was impressive enough Waheed went on to start radiology training and founded his pioneering charity “Arian Teleheal” that works directly with clinicians on the ground, and provides governments and global organizations with a blueprint for delivering innovative healthcare and education. Through a network of volunteers in the UK, doctors across Afghanistan have access to highly skilled and trained clinicians via encrypted social media platforms.Dr Arian has been recognized as a UNESCO Global Hope Hero, a UN Global Goals Goalkeeper, and was appointed to the WHO Roster of Digital Health Experts in 2019. In the UK, he has been awarded the Rotary International Peace Award and the prime minister's Points of Light Award.We talk about a number of things today, largely centred around Waheed's story. How the seed of ambition was planted by a doctor that treated him for TB when he was 6 and how refugees are important and why it is critical to fight for their rights.You can read the full incredible story in Waheed's new book - In The Wars (linked here) - which has just recently been released - what a fascinating journey of ambition and sheer determination to succeed.The legendary BBC reporter John Simpson tells his story in a BBC documentary “Waheed's Wars” - you can find the link on the show notes page of The Doctor's Kitchen Website. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Dr Waheed is a former refugee born in Afghanistan, whose journey to reach the UK was fraught with danger and difficulty. Afghanistan was in the midst of conflict when Dr Waheed was born. Soviet troops had entered the country making it necessary for him and his family to flee on multiple occasions. As a small boy, he found himself living in conditions of extreme poverty in a refugee camp in Pakistan. http://ourvoicespodcast.com/ (Check out our website for the latest from Our Voices) Thanks to our sponsor Swoosh English: for 10% off any course click https://our-voices.captivate.fm/swoosh (here) A https://fascinateproductions.co.uk/ (Fascinate) Production Support this podcast
Dr Waheed Arian escaped from Afghanistan and came to the UK as a child refugee in 1999. Since then, he has become an A&E doctor and founded global telemedicine charity ‘Arian Teleheal'. In this episode Annabelle Collins is joined by Dr Arian, who discusses why simplicity was key when it came to launching a successful telemedicine charity, how his formative experiences in Afghanistan inspired its creation and why the NHS must do more to improve global health inequalities. We also discuss the impact of the pandemic on the NHS workforce and why it is ill-equipped to deal with staff suffering from PTSD – a condition Dr Arian has personal experiences recovering from. Dr Arian's memoir ‘In the wars' is published on June 17th.
Nikki Bedi and Richard Coles are joined by iconic Beninese singer songwriter Angelique Kidjo. Whilst known for her energetic world music style she has also collaborated with Philip Glass, covered Talking Heads, played to a jubilant crowd at the BBC Proms and worked as an advocate for the rights and education of women. Growing up in Afghanistan in the 80s, Waheed Arian had to flee the war aged 5. He contracted TB in a refugee camp and his childhood and education were completely disrupted by war. He sought asylum in the UK, gaining enough qualifications to go to Cambridge University to study medicine. He joins us. Esme Young ran an avant garde fashion shop, has made costumes for Leonardo Di Caprio and Renée Zellweger, lectures at Central St Martins and is a judge on the Great British Sewing Bee on BBC One. Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith is also a passionate angler – he joins us. We have the inheritance Tracks of the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell who chooses Chopin Nocturne No. 1 in b-flat minor and Tippett A Child of our Time, and your thank you. Producer: Corinna Jones
Having survived the civil war in Afghanistan, Waheed Arian arrived alone in the UK aged 15. He went on to study medicine at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Today he's using smartphones and volunteer specialists to provide life-saving medical advice to doctors working in areas of conflict.https://gate.sc/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cam.ac.uk%2Fthiscambridgelife%2Fwaheedarian&token=be4f66-1-1573485071751 (www.cam.ac.uk/thiscambridgelife/waheedarian) My father knew we had only minutes before the bombs reached us. He grabbed me and ran to a nearby village. There he found a house and inside a bread oven in which he hid me. I remember the billowing dust, coming from every direction. I was five years old and we were escaping the conflict in Afghanistan. The Khyber Pass and Torkham border were closed and so we were taking the Tari Mangal route to Pakistan. We travelled in a caravan of 20 to 25 families, the donkeys and horses tied together, carrying the women and children. We had some oiled bread and a little sugar to eat throughout the whole journey. For safety we travelled at night, with only the moonlight to see by. As the sun rose, we would find places to hide until we could continue our journey. It took us seven days to reach the refugee camp. Over the course of that week we were attacked three times by air and tanks. We felt safe at the refugee camp in Peshawar Pakistan, but the conditions were very poor. Our family of ten lived in one room. We had a few cushions and a fan – but still the temperature reached highs of 45 degrees. Within a few days of arriving we contracted malaria and three months later I caught tuberculosis (TB). I decided I wanted to become a doctor when I was recovering from TB. The doctor who was treating me was always smiling despite the conditions of the camp. I didn't have any toys so he gave me an old stethoscope to play with. He also gave me a well-thumbed medical text book which I treasured. We stayed at the camp for three years before returning to Kabul, my home town. The Soviet troops had left but the civil war continued. Each day we hid in the cellars as the rockets, shells and bombs fell. War became normal. Waheed as a child. Credit: Andrew Price/ View Finder Pictures I learnt English by tuning into the BBC World Service, after my father had finished listening to the radio, hoping for some good news. The schools were closed so I taught myself using books brought off the street from people trying to make a little extra money to pay for food. My parents, neither of whom had been to school, knew there was no future for me in Afghanistan, so at 15 years old they sent me to the UK. I arrived in London, alone, with $100 in my pocket. I felt daunted but also happy and excited. For the first time in my life I was safe, and ahead of me lay so many opportunities. For the first week I stayed with a family friend on Portobello Road; I then moved into a flat with other refugees. I was told I should stick to labour work – perhaps working in a chicken shop or becoming a taxi driver. These are hardworking jobs, and I admire people doing them, but my dream was to become a doctor. So I took a job on Edgware Road as a salesman, found some GCSE books and studied every spare moment. I even hid my books under the counter so I could read them when the shop was quiet. I persuaded a local college to allow me to take an assessment to see if I could study for A levels. I passed - just. I wanted to prove a point so I took five AS levels. I completed all five AS subjects achieving A grades. In my second year, I completed three A levels achieving A grades. I needed to continue working while I was studying so I had to enrol at three different colleges, taking classes during the day as well as in the evenings. I met someone who had just graduated from Cambridge and he suggested I should apply too. I was not convinced, but agreed to visit the city. When I saw...