I –Ahmed Ebrahim

Ahmed is 15 years old and he was already born in France, thus belonging to the second generation of immigrants.

My name is Ahmed Ebrahim, I live with my parents and brothers in Paris, Île-de-France. I am French, more than Moroccan, but I still practise some of our traditions – I go to the mosque and I do not eat pork. I have a lot of friends from different nationalities, and we all respect each others’ cultures. I love my life, here in Paris! However, my parents had a difficult life in the past. They were born in Casablanca, but my dad abandoned the country in 2012, for he could not find work nor feed our family. He belonged to the group of 1.7 million of immigrants that arrived in Europe in 2012. He travelled in those dangerous boats that cross the Mediterranean Sea, and some of his mates died, swallowed by the sea. In the first year, my dad worked illegally in the construction industry, and he lived in a room with five other people, also immigrants. One year later he finally got his license and citizenship, and my mother and elder brothers joined him. Today my parents own a shop, and all my family has the French citizenship. And I can see, through my parent’s friends that have arrived this year, that all the conditions are better, and the process of acquiring citizenship is easier. I want to thank this country, because it has opened its doors to those who are looking for new opportunities!

II – Olia Shadrova

Olia was a primary teacher in Ukraine but she had to leave the country in 2014.

My name is Olia Shadrova and I am 50 years old. I ran away from Ukraine in 2014 because of the war against Russia, and I arrived in Poland with my two daughters and only one bag and the clothes we were wearing that day. It was very hard to start a new life out of the blue, but now I am really happy with all we have built. I still work as a secretary, and I feel really comfortable here.

III – Dalva dos Santos

Dalva, aged 23, is a writer and musician. She has been living in Portugal since 2028.

My name is Dalva dos Santos, and I was born in S. Paulo, Brazil, but I moved to Rio de Janeiro at the age of 10. Literature has always been a crucial element in my life, and so I went to Rio de Janeiro University, where I majored in Portuguese Literature. I completed the first 3 years in Brazil, but I won a scholarship and I continued my studies in Portugal. Here I fell in love with the Portuguese culture, the city of Lisbon, and a Portuguese man too, who is now my boyfriend! We live at a comfortable small apartment in Alfama, and our neighbours are very nice. At first it took me some time to adjust to the Portuguese culture, but now I am totally in it. Music is also very important to me, and I love listening to Fado and the Portuguese Guitar. Sometimes, the Brazilian community here in Alfama also organizes some parties, and there is a lot of Samba and Bossa Nova, and such cultural exchange is extremely enriching. I am also very glad because, since Brazil is a fast-growing country, the new Brazilians that arrive to Portugal are here mainly to continue their studies, and not only due to the country’s financial crisis.

IV – Barlas Solak

Barlas Solak is 41 years old. He was born in Turkey but he has been living in Berlin since 2015.

I am Barlas Solak, and I was born in Ancara. In their youth my parents have been in Germany, working in a restaurant. However, they had some problems learning the language and with the residence license; moreover, people in Germany were prejudiced against immigrants, especially those coming from non EU member states. And so, after one year, they left the country and returned to Turkey, now a EU member state, where I and my sister were born. I studied at Middle East Technical University and worked there as a journalist and translator. I have always kept a proximity to Germany, in part because of my parents’ story; but it was a surprise when, in 2014, I received a proposal to work as a translator and professor at a language school in Berlin. Because of the huge Turkish community in Germany, I can always recall my culture, but I have to admit that I miss my city. Despite this, I feel really integrated and I think that the immigration laws are much more tolerant and flexible nowadays.