Personal stories

Restaurant run by refugees promotes integration in Italy

A restaurant in Turin called Zenobia is managed by a family of Syrian refugees who want to promote integration.

Syrian refugee: 'German laws forced me to return!'

Many refugees return to their home countries because of the money the German government offers them for repatriation. But one Syrian family has decided to leave Germany for different reasons.

Suleiman's story: integration through technology

Suleiman Ali is a Somali refugee who fled violence and traveled to Italy where he now works as a Big Data junior expert.

Mahmud's story: how he saved himself and his family

This is the story of Mahmud and his effort to bring his family from Syria to Italy through the help of the Community of Sant'Egidio and humanitarian corridors.

For this Syrian refugee in Germany, an apprenticeship makes all the difference

Integrating refugees into the workforce has been a major challenge for the German government. But for one Syrian refugee from Aleppo, a trainee position at a building renovation company could be the key to building a new life in Germany.

Diallo's story: friendship found, lost, and found again

The story of 19-year-old Diallo from Guinea is one of escape from racism and violence, of tragedy in the desert, and of friendship in Libya lost and found again.

'I feel lost without the piano'

Aeham Ahmad made headlines when photographs of him playing the piano amidst the destruction and the exodus from al Yarmouk camp near Damascus went viral. Today, the accomplished pianist lives in Germany and plays in concerts to raise awareness about the war in Syria.

Syrian refugee Abu Rabiah in Italy thanks to humanitarian corridors

Abu Rabiah fled Homs and the war with his family. He had a difficult life at a refugee camp in Lebanon and arrived in Italy thanks to humanitarian corridors. He is now an activist for peace.

'I did it to save my life'

Fasasi Abeedeen, 32, is from Nigeria and arrived in Italy in 2015. He speaks about his long and arduous journey to Europe and the feelings he experienced through his art.

Abdi's story: 'I am happy but I miss my family '

31-year old Abdi fled the Al-Shabaab armed group in Somalia and then waited for some time in Libya. He eventually arrived in Italy thanks to some help from other migrants.

Syrian refugee Basma shares her story of travelling the Balkan route

Living in camps and shelters is not easy and is causing many refugees great distress. For 25-year old Syrian refugee Basma, however, the stress of a shelter or camp is not as severe as the horrors she faced with her two children by foot on the Balkan route from Syria to Germany.

From the Sinjar mountains to Germany's Rhineland: a Yazidi refugee's story

The Yazidi are a religious minority in northern Iraq and other parts of the Middle East whose people have been persecuted by the "Islamic State." One Yazidi who fled Iraq and sought refuge in Germany shares his story with InfoMigrants.