“The Main Reason that makes me Happy is my Studies!”
He became 18 years old in Greece, after a long journey not only towards safety but also towards adulthood; adulthood that came abruptly to help him cope with the conditions. His living environment requested one thing; to fight for his life. Everything else would follow. And they did.
Today, the 20-year-old Abdo is a young citizen of the world. He speaks Arabic, English and Greek, he studies computer science, he has friends from many countries around the globe and he is eager to learn anything new that brings him closer to further knowledge, diverse people and cultures. That’s what Abdo seeks to do, although the initial impression is that he is an introvert young man.
His eyes sparkle on the question “what are you studying?”, to which he responds with enthusiasm – “I’m studying computer science! I love computers!“
Abdo lives with other 24 young men in the Youth Shelter operated by SolidarityNow in collaboration with the Society for the Care of Minors. The Shelter is part of the accommodation program implemented by the organization and concerns the “provision of accommodation, food and education to young adults aged 18-22 aiming at their smooth inclusion into the Greek society“, says Nikos Zervas, the organization’s Shelter Coordinator.
In spite of his living together with several people, “I always find time to be alone“. He was also alone when one of the many bombs in Syria injured him both psychologically and physically. The serious health problem with which he is left has made him stronger – “I can endure much” – but at the same time makes him vulnerable, “I see bad dreams and I find it difficult to sleep“. Now that he is experiencing a totally different reality in Athens, in the Shelter, in the college studying computer science, he feels safer and dares to be optimistic about his future. His dream is, not to be afraid anymore.
Along with his college education, he attends the Greek and English classes at the SolidarityNow Intercultural Center “Diadromes” and has recently participated, together with other of his co-residents, at the photography and radio courses organized by the organization for the young men of the Shelter; in his limited spare time, he walks. “I like walking in the city, either alone or with friends. Now I’m less afraid. I want to live in Greece, but probably not in Athens. It is too big for me, I would prefer to stay in another city, such as Chania, Kalamata, Sparta”.
Towards the end of our meeting, Abdo speaks only for his family. His parents, the beloved brothers, his country Syria – his parents and most of his older siblings are still there. There is another brother living in Germany – “I don’t like Germany, it’s cold. But I want to see my brother! Just for one hour. We are friends, not only brothers!“, he says impatiently. However, he underlines that it is still very hard to express his true feelings when he talks with his family so as “not to worry them”.
“I only speak to them about the main reason that makes me happy;
and that’s my studies!”
*The Youth Shelter is operated by SolidarityNow under the framework of its whole accommodation program, which is part of the ESTIA-Emergency Support to Integration & Accommodation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR GREECE) and funded by the European Commission – Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Operations – ECHO.