Empowerment story: escaping from war in Syria and changing the world-view in Slovenia
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Institutions involved
NGOs, Public Bodies
Problem addressed
The interviewee Sara was born in Syria and 5 years ago came in Slovenia with her husband and children. Having no information about Slovenia, not even chosen it in the first place. The perception of women in Syria is as the women are weak, but not in Slovenia. According to the interviewee the women in Slovenia are stronger. In Syria the man is number one. The Slovenian women are more free, they have more choice to decide upon. As she heard also in some places in Slovenia men are also number one, but in general it is different… According to the interviewee in Syria these traditional gender roles are more strictly defined. She commented that the inner power has changed in her after the life in Slovenia. The women in Slovenia can do everything without a man. This perception is very different from the one in Syria.
The problems she faced were connected to lack of information, arranging the documentation and language barrier. Upon arrival in Slovenia they faced difficulties in relation to material resources, personal and social relationships, basic needs, documentation, language, culture... In the beginning it was very hard: the culture is different, the language is very difficult and they didn’t understand anything (translater was urgent). That is why this NGO (Slovene Philanthropy) was so crucial for them. In the beginning there was a teacher how came for few hours a week and informed them what is the culture in Slovenia, how we will go to the grocery shop or pharmacy or bank or centre for social work when needed. How do they say something, like what do they need. She taught them how to fill-in the documentation they needed then.
Resilience strategies addressed by women
Her migration travel was extremely difficult. They had a car, they sold it and they had some money thus the organization was not difficult. The migration got complicated since the Syrian-Turkey border was closed and one could not go anywhere at that time. They prepared for a trip for few days only. They were thinking that they will leave the town where they lived since it was not safe anymore. More than 10 relatives died there, the house was ruined. The house fell and relatives were inside. It really was a disaster. They went from Aleppo in Syria, village in Syria, Turkey, Greece and then directly to Slovenia. They used various means of the transport during their journey: car (Syria to Turkey), bus (in Turkey until the border), boat (from Turkey to Greece) and airplane (from Greece to Slovenia).
Then there was a man who took them in his car, they had to pay him, then he drove them close to the Syrian-Turkey border and they had to walk across the border. Then in Greece they were taken under this EU protection program and then they heard about Slovenia. They were not asked where they want to go. They told them that this family will go to Slovenia. They never before heard about Slovenia. In Syria they talked with one man about the trip organization, but then in Greece it was different. The EU organized everything. In Greece they stayed for around 9 months. The borders were closed - one could not go to Serbia or Macedonia. That’s why they stayed in a tent there. Her son then was really a baby, only 40 days old, then he had health problems. There were some people who wanted to go to Macedonia and police said no. Then they made some problems and the police dropped a tear gas canister. They had breathing problems, but at her son’s this problems brought to asthma. It was really difficult. They had to go each month for one week in the hospital with him. There were many difficult situations they had to face, including the cold weather in winter. Many people even died on the migration trip. For example: on the boat from Turkey to Greece it was terrible. For some time they thought they will die. The man to whom we paid for the trip, said that they will be on the boat for 15 minutes, but it took them 4 hours. In Greece the police helped with food, clothes and similar.
Description of the integration initiative implemented
The interviewee is learning Slovenian language, going to school for adults, learning how to deal with various documentation etc. They would like to stay here and gain Slovenian citizenship status. They would like to get a good job, like average Slovenian people. Also her husband would like that too. They would like the kids to get well education – go to study and get even better job.
There was a special program in the NGOs (Slovenska filantropija and Odnos) within which they organized a social meeting with migrants from different countries. Once or twice a month they invites us (they have our contacts) to a social event, like a kind of party and we met there different people. Of course, in the last year it didn’t happened due to pandemic (Covid-19). The interviewee have to finish her school first.
Personal story
Sara was born in Syria. She is Syrian nationality. Her last place of residence before migrating was Aleppo in Syria (migrating through Turkey, Greece and then with the help of EU refugee program to Slovenia). She is 26 years old, having 3 children. She came together with her husband and children. She finished primary school. The education system in Syria is different: first 9 years, then 3 years and then faculty. She is currently attending the primary school for adults. Even though she finished the primary school in Syria, since she doesn’t have proof, papers, it is like she hasn’t finished anything. Now she is in the 6th class in the primary school in Slovenia. But this is the only way: she has to finish 9th class in the primary school in Slovenia, then some vocational school to be able to get a proper job.
They decided to leave Aleppo in Syria after they watched many houses in their surrounding that fell and more than 10 relatives died there since they were inside the house. Their migration trip was long: first they went from one town to another in Syria. They lived there for another 2 years. They rented a house in the village, their relatives were there too. The danger for living there was smaller. But after some time also there the problems started. Also in that village it was no longer safe to stay. Then they decided to leave everything there too and went towards Turkey, Greece and then to Slovenia. Upon arrival they were in asylum home in Logatec for three months. Then they got a refugee status. Later on they rented a house and everything went well. In the beginning it was very difficult, but we received huge support from the NGO. They really have very good program to help refugees – they organized Slovenian language course for them, but also how to go the bank, post office, shop and similar. They prepared all the paperwork, but then they went together with the interviewee to the centre for social work. They taught them how to go to the centre for social work, how to arrange all the necessary paperwork, documentation, what to do when the doctor is needed or similar. Now they are on their own, but now it is easier. Her family is in Turkey, but husband’s family remained in Syria. In principle, they are well, they work, but the security is a huge issue and problem there. Her mother was a hairdresser and she worked there for two years in the hairdresser’s salon. In Syria it is very hard life – no food, difficult life… Upon the arrival in Slovenia (5 years ago) it was very difficult for children in regard to the peer relationship since they didn’t know the Slovenian language at all. Also the food, culture was very different and it was really very difficult in the beginning. Sometimes they met with some people from Syria, but there are not many in Slovenia at all. According to her they would like to stay in Slovenia and gain Slovenian citizenship status. They feel totally safe in Slovenia. They would like to get a good job “like Slovenian people”, average one. Also her husband would like that too. They would like the kids to get well education – go to study and get even better job.
Analysis of the initiative and individual story
The main initiatives to improve integration have been:
LEGAL SCOPE:
- It is very helpful to have support during the arranging documentation for living in Slovenia.
RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS
- There is a lack of social integration support even though the interviewee speaks Slovene language.
NETWORKS AND PARTICIPATION
- The support from the NGOs was crucial in their migration path and upon arrival in Slovenia, especially in the beginning.
CULTURAL IDENTITY
- Maintaining parts of Syrian culture, but learning and adapting parts of Slovenian culture. Sometimes they met with some people from Syria, but there are not many in Slovenia at all. Her children are more often playing with children from Slovenia then with the ones from Syria.
.RESILIENCE STRATEGIES
- To organize events and enable newcomers to meet other people from different countries in order to share various experiences and broaden the scope.
Results and Impact
This migratory process had an important impact on the life of the interviewee: she gained a lot of different experiences, but also there was an empowerment affect.
The interviewed woman compared that the life in Slovenia in comparison to the life in origin country very much improved, the feeling of security arose and the quality of life changed.
