Fridae

Originally from Malaysia, 22-year-old Azizi Anis Amalina—now studying in Auckland, New Zealand—has created a Facebook page to reach out to international students struggling with emotional and cultural difficulties, the New Zealand Herald reported. 

More than 3,600 students have ‘liked’ the page—‘UoA meaningful confessions’—in which discussion topics range from sex and gay marriage to depression and suicide. 

“It’s really difficult to make any close friends,” Anis is quoted as saying. “I was desperate for someone to vent out to, and I found doing that in social media actually helps.”

Around 400 “confessions” have been posted in the last five months, and Anis told The New Zealand Herald she hoped the site would facilitate the raising of further awareness about the challenges and questions faced by international students.