The Year 12 & 13 students were privileged to welcome Farid Ahmed to our school yesterday where he outlined his philosophy of forgiveness, peace and love. Farid’s view of the world had been tested by the experience of being involved in a car crash twenty years ago that left him confined to a wheelchair as a paraplegic. His wife remained by his side and was his strength in the years following the accident.

“She sacrificed her life for others, for me,” he says.

Knowing that Husna was clever and she had helped others to escape during the Christchurch mosque shootings, Farid had hoped she might have survived.  So hearing the news that the truth was otherwise, was devastating.

Farid’s presentation was deeply moving and inspirational as he relived the Friday events of the mosque attack. The strong message of forgiveness and the importance of friends was conveyed to the students as he talked of his only daughter and the impact the day had on their lives.

"I'd like to congratulate all Kiwis for the remarkable power of compassion which helped us in our healing," he said.

Farid is a senior leader at the Deans Ave Mosque in Christchurch and he works as a homoeopath.  Since the attack, he has been around the world delivering his message and this was his first time in Hawke's Bay.  His words of gratitude and encouragement in the aftermath of tragedy left a lasting impression on all our listeners. At the conclusion of Farid's address Year 13 student Caitlin Hedge presented him with a taonga on behalf of all HNHS students.

Havelock North High School has purchased two copies of Farid’s book, ‘Husna’s Story’ which will be available in the school library.

Article added: Tuesday 10 August 2021