Hajiji, 42, from Aleppo, Syria

I had to leave my entire family in Turkey and only I could flee on a small boat to Greece. These are my kids and my wife. As you can see I have five children of 17, 16, 12, 10 and 4 years. I miss them a lot! It is not really safe where they are now, but it's a bit better than in Syria. Back in Syria they went to school – they were really good students there. 

Aleppo, our hometown, was a really beautiful city. We lived there in peace. I worked on a construction site. But suddenly everything changed!

I am really grateful that Germany opened its doors for us and I hope my kids and family can come here as soon as possible. 

 

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Fida, 17, from Al-Hamah, Syria

I am married with my cousin since five months. We married in our village before we fled from Syria to Germany. Before the war we lived in a small, quiet an green village at a beautiful river. But now everything is destroyed. During the bayram holidays our whole family came together and celebrated together. I really miss this!

Mohammed, my husband was a bus driver and I went to school in the 10th grade. I hope that I can continue and finish school here in Germany. My husband hopes to find work as a driver. His favorite car is a BMW. 

 

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Wael, 15, from Aleppo, Syria

My parents sent my older brother and me away from Syria because of the war. My parents are still in Syria, but they are well. I am lucky that we can talk on the phone every now and then. I hope they can also come here soon! I often think of the beautiful times when our family was all together at home!

My dream is to become an engineer after school, but I can not go to school yet. I was in a private school in Syria where I enjoyed mathematics, history and painting.

 

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Hala, 10, from Damascus, Syria

I am in Germany for just one month with my family. I like it here – just everything! There is not much to do for me here in the camp. But I learned to ride a bicycle when I came here – that is great fun! And I have already found friends. In Syria I went to school in Damascus and my favourite subjects were Arabic and mathematics. Before we came to Stuttgart I could go to school in Heidelberg for a short time. 

 

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Manissa, 6, from Qamishli, Syria

In Syria I went to kindergarden, but I already learned to write single letters there. I also go to the kindergarden here in Birkach. There I have already made some German friends and therefore I can speak some German already.

Now I hope that I can go to school soon. But my parents have not yet found a place for me. I am really looking forward to that! I would like to learn to read and write. And when I’m grown up I would like to become a teacher.

 

To learn more about Manissa's hometown of Qamishli, Syria, click on the marker in the map to be transferred to Google Maps. There you find information and photos of her hometown.

Vanessa, 11, from Qamishli, Syria

When I was in Syria I liked to play with my cousin. I miss her very much and hope we can play together again soon. I fled from Syria with my parents and my younger brother and sister. We took a little boat from Turkey to Greece. When we arrived in Greece this was one of my happiest moments!

I am from Qamishli and my city is very beautiful. There are many mountains nearby – but I’ve never been to one of them. In my hometown I went to school from Sunday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday we had off for the weekend. My favourite subject was English. I’m lucky that I can go to school here soon. Until then I like to handcraft with my younger sister and exercising rollerblades. That’s a lot of fun!

I get along well with children, therefore I would like to become a paediatrician when I’m grown up.

 

Learn more about Vanessa's hometown! Click on the marker in the map to be transferred to Google Maps. Here you find photos and infos about the city of Qamishli.

Zahib, 18, from Herat, Afghanistan

I am waiting to get a chance to go to school here and learn German. I have to wait all day and can’t do much. Sometimes I go to a library and try to pick up some German on my own. But it is difficult and I can’t say much. I went to school for nine years but had to stop then because of the war. I fled from Afghanistan to Iran, then on to Turkey and Greece.

My parents are in another camp together with my two brothers so I don’t see them very often.

I love sports - especially boxing. I never did it, but I’d like to start here. I know that it hurts - still would like to try it.

 

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Mohammad, 8, from Daraa, Syria

I am lucky - I can already go to school here! Just 4 hours a day but I really like it! I could learn some German already! Every day I have homework to do and after homework I play football with my friends and the kids from the camp. I made a lot of friends in school already. They are all nice to me. And the teachers too. In Syria I could go to school for two years already. When I’m grown up I hope to become a doctor!

I’m here with my family, my brother, my sister, father and mother. We are here since 2 months. Germany is good because the people are nice here - especially my friends!

I don’t know any football clubs from Syria - only our national team. Hopefully they can play in an international tournament and win a title some day.

 

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