Mamud el Hasson, 20, Rohingyan Mamud el Hasson. Credit:Matthew Abbott Hasson, who fled Myanmar, turned 18 on Manus while in detention. There was little cause for celebration. Yet he is not one for wasting time. Among his major achievements is reading his first English book, a history of Azerbaijan. Music provides its own relief. He's passionate about Justin Bieber and rapper Akon. Hasson says he fled Myanmar after some of his friends were jailed. He is not set on settling in Australia- of which there appears no prospect- but simply yearns for a life in any country in which he can live safely. Abdul Aziz, 26, Sudan Abdul Aziz. Credit:Matthew Abbott

Aziz learnt Spanish on Manus by rising every day at 5 am and listening to a recorded lesson for an hour. Aziz now speaks seven languages and taught English to a class of 35 asylum seekers. He has endured plenty, including hunger strikes and the drowning of five friends after a failed attempt to reach Australia by boat. He understands the desire to prevent deaths at sea, but says leaving men in limbo on Manus can't be considered a humane solution. He regards himself as pawn in a political game of chess with no end in sight. Shahzad Ahmad, 26, Pakistan Shahzad Ahmad. Credit:Matthew Abbott The TV series Breaking Bad fascinates Ahmad. The computer science graduate, who once managed a thriving family business, is intrigued by the show's tale of how good men can slip into darkness. He was forced to flee Pakistan after he was threatened by the Taliban. But he remembers those who have helped him, too. As in his favourite show, where there is darkness, there is often also light. Mehdi, 31, Iran

Medhi. Supplied. To go with Michael BAchelard story Men of Manus Men of Manus story by Michael Bachelard Credit:Matthew Abbott Mehdi once made his living by making people laugh. The Iranian, who is a dwarf, worked as stand-up comedian and actor before he fled. He says he is now haunted by memories of his dead father, who used to pick him up and cuddle him back in Iran, a loving gesture that continued even when Mehdi entered his twenties. Aadil*, 25, Iran (not real name) Aadil's refrain is the same as many of those on Manus: "I don't care where they send me. As long as it is safe." His girlfriend lives 10,000 kilometres away, in the country he fled. He says his love for this woman sustains him on Manus, but he tells her few details about what his life is truly like. It's better this way, he says. As a child, Aadil knew he wanted to become a businessman and sold women's clothing in Iran before he says he joined anti-government protests. Business remains his passion. Amir, 23, Iran

Amir Taghinia. Credit:Matthew Abbott Amir fled Iran at the age of 15. He says his choice of religion left him no choice. He made it to Malaysia where he lived for five years with a dream to study law and work in human rights. He had to settle with learning how to cook and become self sufficient, skills that would nevertheless become valuable when his journey to Australia saw him diverted to Manus. He talks of a life that has been paused indefinitely and of missing his mother's cooking. He still dreams of becoming a lawyer. Imran Mohammad, 22, Rohingyan Imran Mohammad Fazal Hoque. Credit:Matthew Abbott Mohammad, who fled Myanamar aged 16, lives by a mantra: the day you stop learning is the day you die. He taught himself English by writing a page of his autobiography ever day. It is now a tome, some 1100 pages long. There is no shortage of despair and suffering on Manus, but he refuses to be overcome. "I am only 22 ... I have seen many terrible things in my life. But I have experienced many good things as well. I have been tortured. And I have been loved."

Loading Ali Muhammad, 42, Pakistan Ali Muhammad, 42, Pakistan. Credit:Matthew Abbott A truck driver for six years, Muhammad was previously a motorcycle mechanic, having fallen in love with bikes in his early teens. His wife is in Pakistan with his parents. He has six children, only one of whom is receiving an education. The Taliban destroyed the school his daughters were studying at. So now his daughters can't go to school - only his son. He tries not to think about his future or "hope at all, in case I will be disappointed."