Sajeda’s story: new beginnings in Austria

I started studying German Literature at the University of Damascus in 2011 after finishing high school. It was a newly introduced program at our university, and I was very curious to learn something new. However, things changed dramatically within just a year following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2012.

My family and I were forced to flee our home after my 23-year-old brother was killed on the way to university. We first sought refuge in Jordan, where we stayed for about three years. The situation there was difficult, and we realized we could not simply wait for things to improve in Syria. We needed a place where we could live, study, work and have legal security. That’s how we found our way to Austria and started a new life. It was an incredibly difficult decision.