Refugees in Bremen : 2 Years On.

I wrote about my first refugee friend from Afghanistan, Amanullah when I met him in Bremen 2 yrs ago. He arrived in Germany after fleeing the ongoing conflict and the Taliban regime. Back then, I shared about how his volunteer mentor, a local named Beccy, had to translate back and forth as I know no german/pashto and he couldn't speak English.

AMANULLAH

I recently revisited Bremen in December 2018 and spent a night out with Amanullah and Beccy at the Weihnachtsmarkt and converse over a good Syrian dinner. Bremen seriously has the best Christmas markets as they have this rustic backdrop of the Dom and cathedrals and help transport you back in time. Nothing much has changed honestly; Beccy still had to aid in translating and Amanullah is still that shy and timid being.

But what is apparent is Amanullah's new self-brand. He grooms well, speaks fluent German (with a bit of English that he is working on!) and looks less tense. He now works full time in the engineering sector while studying for the Ausbildung, a 3-year vocational training that provides asylum seekers employment opportunities and avails a form of citizenship upon completion.

It is definitely not easy to juggle. He faces long weekdays in commitment to both but I thought it is just that he proves that he can succeed for himself and his self-development. He might downplay it but I think he can pull through.

Amanullah also sports a newly minted tattoo. Asked him if قيصار refers to Kaiser in German. It actually refers to Qaysar, his hometown. I then asked if he has told his parents to which he laughed and mustered in whatever litte English he knows : "No no! my dad finds this haramm". His dad is an Imam back home.

It warms me to hear stories of his family as I can feel how he misses them. His brother has fled as well and is now at the Turkish border. His parents are still in Afghan. He can't go back but hopes that he can bring them over (at least his mother and brother for now) under Germany's newly introduced Family Reunification Scheme. For that I pray and hope it will come true.

LOUIS

I then followed Beccy to meet her other mentee at his apartment. Louis, a christian Syrian from Hama, sought asylum in Bremen around the same time as Amanullah back in 2015. Under the reunification scheme, he was able to bring in his other family of 5. While he stays in his own place, his other family members live in the same apartment situated in Am Walle.

Louis was doing Maths, which he claimed to be a bit too easy for him. Louis was studying to be a مهندس / engineer back then. He now goes through the Ausbildung and has to start from scratch. Like Amanullah, his German is fluent and looks assuring. Like he knows what he is in for. Louis plans to be a youth worker after completing the course.

Like any other Syrians I have met, they accommodated me by conversing in formal Arabic and Louis' mum served warm Layalina Tea which she prides on and rightly so. I asked if she is doing okay here. She smiled, saying she trying to adapt to a wholly new environment and to learn German especially. She is thankful that healthcare is free here. Asylum seekers receive quite a bit of annual sum from the government as well.

Louis' family is on special visa which allows them to travel to Syria if they wish to. His dad is going home to Hama for a while to celebrate Christmas. In his own words : "Before the war, Syrians don't travel out because we are busy people, and because in Syria, we had everything we needed". They might have lost a lot, but pride for being who they are is definitely not one.

The night was insightful. It occurred to me that the mentorship system of Beccy and the refugees is a very important factor that determines their progress and how they ease into the German society. It is also unique to Bremen as a state as refugee development is pretty much decentralized and locals are able to participate and empower. While it is voluntary, individuals like Beccy has given their everything to help.

I wrote this in the morning of 1st January 2019 and hoping that I will be given an opportunity to visit these individuals and families again. Till then, the work continues.

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RESOURCES

My first stories on Refugees in Bremen and Amanullah :

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/first-conversation-refugee-flesh-izhar-roslan/

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/kabuli-palau-hansator-izhar-roslan/

What is the Ausbildung?

https://mkenyaujerumani.de/2013/06/22/understanding-the-concept-of-a-german-ausbildung-vocational-training/

What is the Family Reunification Scheme?

https://www.dw.com/en/refugee-family-reunification-in-germany-what-you-need-to-know/a-40449409?fbclid=IwAR1rkBeJLWwgvurRgyZ1elFm7AOdin_QlAC2nPGPeBBdF1x0LQOvlZlrW7I