germany – A Million Stories

Even though I am still alive, my daughter is growing up without me

AMSgreece — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 19:54:46 +0000

Hello! Μy name is Omar and I am 28 years old. I was born in Afrin and I was studying in Aleppo for four years. After those four years, we had to choose one language between French and English. I chose to study French but my family complained that French is not so popular. They sent me to a village to study English because they thought that English is more important. After that, I studied Economics at a university. I was in the last year of my studies when the war started. I had only five courses remaining until my degree but I did not have the opportunity to take my degree because of the war. One more reason that I did not finish my studies earlier was that I was afraid that they will send me to the Army. In my country, if you finish university you have to go to the Army. So did my brother, too. He did not have a choice.
My family had a house in Aleppo but when the war started we went to a village. It was about 2011 – 2012 when we moved to the village. There was safer and many more Kurdish people were living there too. I was studying, I was happy and I did not belong to the government. For Kurdish people, this was a big problem.
After that period, I went to Turkey. In the beginning, I stayed in Istanbul for six months and then to my sister in Smirn, where I stayed for more than four years. I did not know the language but I learnt it by myself. It was not so difficult to learn the Turkish language. Because I wasn’t speaking fluently, I could not study and I had to work. Sometimes I was working more than ten hours. In Turkey, I also got married. My wife and I have a daughter. My wife had also one more daughter from her first marriage. She was Kurdish, too, from Afrin. After my marriage, the borders of Syria and Turkey were getting more dangerous. Many people came to Turkey to ask for asylum.
Turkish people normally were good but if you say that you are Kurdish and you talk for the government they do not like it. After that period, we decided with my wife to go to Germany, because many of my relatives are already settled in Germany.. my brother, my sister.
In Greece, I have been for almost seven to eight months. My wife and my daughter are already in Germany. When we came, the relocation was not possible and we had many issues here. Thus, I decided to send her to Germany, while she was pregnant. But now I have a problem and I cannot leave yet. My wife gave birth to our daughter, in Germany.
I am not happy because my wife was sent to another area and she is away from my sister and my brother there. I cannot also be here and there. I do not ask anything from the government, I just want to be with my family. I will have to wait for the documents more than one year and the illegal way of travelling needs much money. Also, it is very dangerous.
I just want to tell the European Government and people: “Please, accept people in this way. Mutual respect for all people. You make more problems but we do not have a choice to return back to our country. People in my country are getting killed. If you take my rights you are not my friend… I do not want to be a soldier, I do not want to fight, that’s why I left.” Many people are getting into debt because they are trying to travel illegal. I love Greece but my family is in Germany and what bothers me more is that the first husband of my wife was killed on the war and his daughter grew up without him. Even though I am still alive, my daughter is growing up without me.

Dublin Core: Language: en Subject: Greece, Syria, refugee, A Million Stories

Flowers

AMSgermany — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 11:11:50 +0000

Sebihan is 13 years old. She fled from Marcedonia to Germany.

“I love flowers and therefore I wanted to paint them.”

Storyteller’s name: Sebihan
Country of origin: Marcedonia
Sex: f
Age: 13

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, marcedonia, germany

Footballfield

AMSgermany — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 11:03:02 +0000

Armando is 7 years old. He fled from Kosovo to Germany.

“I panited the picture because I like football very much.”

Storyteller’s name: Armando
Country of origin: Kosovo
Sex: m
Age: 7

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, Kosovo, germany

My father was taken away

AMSgermany — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 13:08:22 +0000

My name is A., I am 21 years old and I come from Eritrea. I worked as a goldsmith in Eritrea for a long time. I lived with my family. I come from the village of Ghinda.

I left Eritrea in July 2013. My father was taken away for political reasons. Life became very difficult for me and my family because my father worked for the family. I got big problems, had to leave school and got into prison.

At the moment I am attending the German course. Here in Germany I live alone. I would like to pass the German course and work as a goldsmith again.

Storyteller’s name: Anonymous
Interviewer’s name: Sarah El Desoke and Sarah Dudek
Country of origin: Eritrea
Sex: m
Age: 21

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, sudan, eritrea, germany

My sons would have had to join the military

AMSgermany — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 11:57:07 +0000

My name is R.. I am 53 years old and come from Syria. I lived in Damascus and worked there as a bank employee. I am a widow and have three children. Two sons and one daughter. I have been living in Germany for two years. I had to flee my homeland because there was war in my country. I came to Germany because otherwise my sons would have had to join the military.

I have been attending a German course for two years. I have already passed the B1 course and now I visit the women’s café on Fridays. I regularly went to the old people’s home and I hope to find a good job or learn more German or help other people. I am sad because I had to leave my mother, who is in a wheelchair, alone.

Storyteller’s name: R.
Interviewer’s name: Sarah El Desoke
Country of origin: Syria
Sex: f
Age: 53

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, syria, germany

Only the people with a lot of money get a good job

AMSgermany — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 11:41:25 +0000

My name is Dijana, I come from Bosnia and I am 22 years old. In Bosnia I finished my school and lived with my family. In my country it is not important what kind of certificate you have. You have to accept every job and only the people with a lot of money get a good job. I live in Germany with my little sister. My family lives in Bosnia. I am doing a German course and working as a temporary help in a restaurant.

Storyteller’s name: Dijana
Interviewer’s name: Sarah El Desoke and Sarah Dudek
Country of origin: Bosnia
Sex: f
Age: 22

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, bosnia, germany

I wish to live in peace in Germany

AMSgermany — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 11:30:33 +0000

My name is Murad and I come from Syria. I am 23 years old. I come from Qamishli and lived there with my family. I left my homeland in 2012 because of the war. Before war my country was a beautiful country, but due to the war there were only explosions and military. At the moment I am doing a German course. I live here with my family. I would like to work as a hairdresser. I wish to live in peace in Germany.

Storyteller’s name: Murad
Interviewer’s name: Sarah El Desoke and Sarah Dudek
Country of origin: Syria
Sex: m
Age: 23

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, syria, germany

I would like to start my own business

AMSgermany — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 11:22:28 +0000

I’m from Afghanistan und bin 22 Jahre alt. There I went to school. I lived with my family. I left my homeland in 2011 and have been in Germany for three years. In Afghanistan my life was in danger because of the Taliban. At the moment I am taking a German course. I would like to start my own business.

Storyteller’s name: Anonymous
Interviewer’s name: Sarah El Desoke and Sarah Dudek
Country of origin: Afghanistan
Sex: m
Age: 22

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, afghanistan, germany

I saw death

AMSgermany — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 11:14:42 +0000

I come from Syria and I am 45 years old. In Syria I lived in Aleppo and worked there as a secretary. The war started in Syria in 2011, in Aleppo it started in 2012. My family emigrated to Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon. I left my job in 2013. I always lived with friends because my family was gone. My house was destroyed, so I stayed with friends. During the war I saw death. I remember the explosions, I saw death before my eyes. My friends died before my eyes.
I have been attending a German course for 1,5 years. I would like to work in childcare. My hobbies are cooking, reading and handicrafts. I would like to pass my B1 course and find a good job afterwards.

Storyteller’s name: Anonymous
Interviewer’s name: Sarah El Desoke and Sarah Dudek
Country of origin: Syria
Sex: f
Age: 45

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, syria, germany

Syria was destroyed by war

AMSgermany — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 10:54:46 +0000

I come from Syria and now live in Cologne with my family. I am married and have two children. My children attend school and we are satisfied here. For my job I would like to do a further education here.

We left my homeland four years ago because Syria was destroyed by the war. I have been in Germany with my family for three years now and have passed my B1 course. I would like to do further training as a carpenter, because that was my job in Syria. I thank the whole of Europe!

Storyteller’s name: Anonymous
Interviewer’s name: Sarah El Desoke and Sarah Dudek
Country of origin: Syria
Sex: m
Age: –

Dublin Core: Language: de Subject: refugees, asylum, a million stories, syria, germany