Fahima (16) and Mozhda (15) Ahmadi and their parents fled growing turmoil in Kabul when the girls were aged 4 and 3, and since then they have lived in Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.
"Our parents wanted a better life for us. We will always be grateful to them for that," Mozhda said.
"We can only imagine what kind of life we would have had if we had stayed.
"Only the really rich people get to study at university. The resources aren't as good in Afghanistan."
Despite living in Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand most of their lives, the sisters had no trouble deciding who to represent when it came time to symbolise a country during International Race Relations Day celebrations at Logan Park High School this week.
"Definitely Afghanistan. We don't forget our cultures and where we are from. But in a way, we are citizens of the world," Fahima said.
They were among about 80 Logan Park High School pupils from more than 30 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds who gave presentations wearing their national costumes during a special assembly.
Deputy principal Roger Tobin said the event focused on unity within diversity and encouraged tolerance and respect within the school's own global village.
