Opera House award winner: Refugee who says it was his inspiration

By Julie Power
Updated August 18 2016 - 10:44pm, first published 8:24pm
Awkar Ruel visited the Opera House the day after he arrived in Australia as a refugee. He has now won an exchange scholarship to further his architecture studies in Denmark, where the Opera House's architect Jørn Utzon was born and worked.  Photo: Janie Barrett
Awkar Ruel visited the Opera House the day after he arrived in Australia as a refugee. He has now won an exchange scholarship to further his architecture studies in Denmark, where the Opera House's architect Jørn Utzon was born and worked. Photo: Janie Barrett

After being bullied at his new Sydney school because he couldn't speak English, 16-year old refugee Awkar Ruel had a choice: succumb or survive.

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