Refugee lives
Stories from refugees in Germany
I’m from Guinea. It’s a big and very warm country. I lived there with my sister and my parents. I went to school there and worked as a saleswoman after school. Continue reading “My father wanted to force me to marry”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, guinea, germany
My home is Kenya. Nairobi is the capital of Kenya. Kenya is a presidential republic. The current population is about 50 million inhabitants.
I came to Europe from Kenya. Before I came to Germany I worked in Norway. On July 20, 2016 I came to Germany with my family because we were looking for work for my husband and me. I was looking for a challenge in my career as a teacher and the opportunities here were good. Continue reading “My children love Germany and the German lifestyle”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, kenya, germany
I’ve been in Germany for two and a half years now. First I came to Germany for two months, then to France for two months and then back again. I come from Bangladesh, but I was already a refugee there. I have no family, but friends. My parents have been dead for five years. I have another sister who is younger than me. I had political problems in Bangladesh. When I was 14 years old. Continue reading “I have no family but friends”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, germany, bangladesh
Because I am an Afghan, I have not received a German course in recent years. I would like to do an apprenticeship. I’m a tailor. I worked with furniture in Iran.
I have to learn German, learn to understand. Here I would also like to work in a furniture company. I am currently taking a language course for level A2 – another ten days, then is the big test. Next week. This is very difficult for me, reading and writing. Continue reading “Learning is difficult”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, afghanistan, germany, a million stories
I only went to primary school in Bangladesh. Then via India to Turkey, where I lived for five months. I speak Turkish quite well.
I’ve seen many countries. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Turkey, five months in Istanbul, later to Greece for two weeks. The police found us by boat, they had a big boat with a powerful engine. We’ve been locked up. We had to wait. The police said I have to sign something to document where I want to go. Continue reading “Religion doesn’t matter, everyone is equal before God”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, germany, bangladesh
My name is Mamadou Sow. I’m from Guinea. I am 45 years old. I’m a father. I have four children and I am a computer specialist by profession. I’ve been in Germany for three and a half years. I go to VHS in the language course to learn German at level A2 .
I am in Germany because I had problems with politics in Guinea. Because I was in the opposition of the government. But this opposition had great problems with the government. I was a member of a motorcycle group, we mobilized people to demonstrate against the government. The government didn’t like it – but we did it again and again. The police then came, beat us or arrested us, sometimes even shot us. A lot of people died, I lost two friends. The problem was they had no protection. The police came home to people, arrested them and locked them in jail. Continue reading “So I had to go”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, guinea, germany, a million stories
My name is Abdullah, I am 36 years old and come from Syria, Afrin. Originally I’m a Kurd. Afrin used to be a beautiful city, today its condition is very bad, very difficult. Before the war, no city could be compared to Afrin, people lived a normal life in their houses, just like in any other country.
Syria is under dictatorship, but as long as you don’t interfere in politics, you can do whatever you want. The important thing is not to interfere. We belong to the oppressed people in Syria. The Kurdish language was forbidden for us, indeed it was forbidden and we were forced to speak Arabic. They leave you alone as long as you live your life normally and follow the rules. But if you demand your rights or think of speaking your mind, they lock you up. Continue reading “Until when?”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, germany, syria
My name is Mahmoud, I am 37 years old and come from Syria, Afrin.
I was born in a village near Afrin in Yakhur. At eight I left the village and moved to Aleppo. In Aleppo I worked in my uncle’s sewing shop, after two years I started in a university cafeteria, where I didn’t like it very much, so I changed my job. I started working in a very famous Syrian restaurant, they made Shawarma and other delicious dishes. I’ve been in that restaurant for eight years. Then I had to join the military, then I worked in the restaurant for another year, until I started in a car repair shop, I worked there for the next 8 years.
Later I travelled to Lebanon and worked as a car tire mechanic, after three years I went back to Syria and became self-employed. It went well, thank God. Continue reading “The loving”
I’m in a foreign country, I’m cold, I’m scared.
The way before me unclear, in me so many words, but the language is missing to translate them.
I’m in a room full of people and I don’t know what to do. Continue reading “My way”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, syria, germany
My name is Rabia, I am 19 years old and come from Iraq from a city called Sinjar. At the moment I live with my brother and sister in Cologne Godorf, Germany. My homeland Iraq was once a beautiful country, today it is no longer as it once was. It’s war and death. Poverty is widespread everywhere in the country. The people of Iraq are very sad.
Peace has left the country, there are rules, but they do not fit the people or the nation. The situation in Iraq is not good. Continue reading “The truth without fear”
Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, Germany, Iraq, a million stories