Although newcomers have regularly been among us for years, citizens, politicians and policymakers often have little idea of the personal backgrounds of these people. This causes not only loneliness, misunderstanding and antagonism. A consequence is also that integration is unnecessarily hampered and that policies aimed at this are less effective than they could be. To gain more insight into backgrounds, we conducted a large number of in-depth interviews with newcomers. This is done in the context of our project in Teltow-Fläming in Brandenburg in which we investigate the living situation of more than a thousand refugees and try to improve this situation with all stakeholders involved. We asked many questions: why did the people come, what was their life like before, what expectations did they have, what do they want to achieve in Germany, what are their experiences so far, what problems do they face, what solutions do they see for this? The names of those involved have been changed, as well as some place names. The interviews have been conducted in German, English, Farsi, Arabic and French and are published with the consent of those involved. In November 2023 Hans Blokland published Migrationspolitik auf der Flucht (Migration Policy on the Run) at Transcript Publishers in Bielefeld. In this book the interviews are analyzed, qualitative data are presented, and policy recommendations are formulated. Information about the book in English, as well as the Foreword, Introduction and Epilog you can find here.

Sharif and Arezo, Afghanistan

We conducted this interview with a couple from Afghanistan, Sharif and Arezo. They complemented telling their life story together. However, for the ease of reading, their talks have been put into separate sections. Sharif We...

Sahar and Baran, Iran

We conducted this interview in Farsi with an Iranian woman, Sahar, and her daughter, Baran. They complemented telling their life story together. However, for the ease of reading, their comments have been put into separate...

Ines, Cameroon

I come from Cameroon. I arrived in Germany in 2018. I can’t speak about my life in Cameroon because I am doing a therapy for my head to get my memories back. Because of my...

Fatima, Algeria

I grew up in Algeria and attended school there through the first year of university, but I had to leave university after the first year to get married. Unfortunately, my husband and I had to...

Kasra and Mona: Iran

Kasra I am from Iran, 20 years old, and I have been in Germany for 3 years. Mona is my mother. I have been going to school in Germany for 2 years. In this home...

Hung, Vietnam and Ukraine

I was born in Russia because my parents lived there, but I moved to Vietnam when I was three years old to live with my grandparents. I grew up there but returned to live with...

Majid, Iran

I am from Ahvaz, province of Khuzestan in the south of Iran. I am 38 years old, married and have a 16-year-old daughter. I arrived in Germany in 2019. In Iran, I had an interior...

Miranda, Cameroon

I was born in Cameroon, in the city of Yaoundé. I grew up with my grandparents, aunts and cousins. Early on, I knew I wanted to go to Germany. Germany is the biggest economic power...

Naseem, Afghanistan

I was born in Afghanistan but left the country once the Taliban first took over. My family and I escaped to Pakistan, where I continued school. I returned to Afghanistan in 2003 after the United...

Khava, Chechnya

In Chechnya we had three cows, 15 goats, a few sheep, chickens and rabbits. I made butter and cheese myself; once a year we slaughtered a cow. Chickens provide eggs with which you can do...

Aline: Cameroon

I have four children, three girls and one autistic boy. My oldest daughter is 25-years-old and lives in Brandenburg, my second daughter is 19-years-old and lives in Berlin, and I am here with my last...

Karina: Morocco

I come from Northern Morocco, but I moved to Libya some years ago. In my city in Morocco, women are not allowed to go to school, so I never got an education. I still can’t...

Layanah, Cameroon

I came to Germany with my brother. In Cameroon, I worked as a hairdresser. Over time, the brain develops and with it the desire to travel. But the travel was not as I had imagined...

Dukvakha: Chechnya

At 13, I came to Germany with my mother and two sisters due to circumstances. I have been in Germany for seven years now, and all but two weeks in this Übergangsheim (transitional refugee camp)...

Malia and Eliana, Chechnya

This interview was conducted with 14-year-old Malia and her mother Eliana, both from Chechnya. Malia translated for her mother.  ~~~ We are from Chechnya and we have always lived there, but we came to Germany...

Joyce, Sierra Leone

I was born in Nigeria, but I left when I was a baby, so I don’t really know what life was like there. My family moved to Sierra Leone when I was young, and I...

Afra, Iraq

I arrived in Germany on July 1, 2019. My husband worked in the military police in Baghdad. Opponents of the government burned down our house killing one of my sons. Since then, I did not...

Malik: Chechnya

We want to thank Malik for being so open and willing to share his story with us. It is often particularly difficult for Chechen refugees to tell their stories, because if they criticize Chechnya after...

Zayn: Iran & Afghanistan

I am from Afghanistan. I was born in Iran, but my family is from Afghanistan. I lived in one city for 8 or 10 years, then I went to another city. When I was young...

Gulshan: Afghanistan

I am 25 years old, from Afghanistan. I have been living here for about nine months now, since July of 2021. I don’t go to class here. Of course, anyone who wants to plan something...