“I left Iraq in 2017, it was not safe and there are no human rights there. Then I lived in Greece for three years as a refugee, but the situation there is also very bad. I saw images of Belgium and the Atomium on television and I came here. In the meantime I have received papers here and I can finally build a life again. I have a good feeling about Belgium. I see a lot of people from Iraq building a life here. Even the Secretary of State for Asylum & Migration Sammy Mahdi is from Iraq. My Dutch is already starting to improve and I will hopefully also start my studies.”

“My ultimate dream is to become a nurse in the hospital, but I’m not there yet. I have to master the language first and then I can go on to study nursing for another three years. It’s going to be tough, but I’m looking forward to it. In the meantime I also work in a residential care center. I help the beautiful elderly there, which is quite a job. I will combine my studies with that job.”