Heroes At Home – Video Series

For Abdullah, the journey abroad wasn’t what he expected. His experience was defined by grit and unforeseen challenges. Now he’s back home, turning difficult years into local impact.

André left home searching for a better future abroad. But along the way, he realized that the things he truly valued were already waiting for him at home.

Like many young people facing limited opportunities, Ali and his friends attempted to reach Europe in search of a better future. Their journey took them through Belarus toward Poland, where they were detained and deported back to Iraq.

They tried again through the Turkish-Greek border. The journey was dangerous — crossing rivers, avoiding coast guards, risking their lives. Eventually Ali was detained again, lost his belongings, and was forced to return.

After these experiences, Ali rebuilt his life in Iraq. He returned to work in construction, started new opportunities, and built a family.

Shihab stayed home and started putting in the hard work, he went from a junior employee to a Brand Manager right here in Basra.

Yazan used to think that migrating is his only option even if I wasn’t sure of it, everyone around him used to think migration equals success, One time his car broke down and it was the spark that made him create an app to help in the same situation.

In 2015, he travelled through Turkey toward Europe, trusting smugglers who promised safe passage. Instead, the journey was filled with deception and dangerous conditions — vehicles meant for a few were overcrowded, and boats designed for 15 carried more than 50 people.

Starting again was not easy, but Mohammed rebuilt his life step by step, returning to his studies and reconnecting with his community.