Hiba Kaka from Syria

“In Lebanon, we were often confronted with prejudice against Syrians.”

Hiba Kaka, her husband, and her two children lived in Lebanon as Syrian refugees. The family applied for admission through the Humanitäre Bundesprogramm (humanitarian admission program) and entered Germany in 2014. “In Lebanon, we were often confronted with prejudice against Syrians; for example, the idea that they take away living space and jobs,” explains Hiba Kaka about her difficult situation there. Her sister and parents did not have the chance to come to Germany through an admission program, and she had to leave them in Lebanon with a heavy heart. In 2015, however, her parents were allowed to come as well, through a humanitarian admission program.

“Where I live now, here in Germany, I feel really great!” says Hiba.

After the fourteen-day-long first admission in Friedland, the family was sent to Hessen. Today, they are very happy there. Mrs. Kaka speaks German well now; however, studying the language was very difficult for her. She points out that:

“There are still too few on-site translators currently at important appointments and meetings, such as meetings with authorities.”

She is still always puzzled when administrative employees don’t speak English to her, even though she knows that they are capable of doing so. She hopes that in the future more translators will be made available for refugees in Germany, especially for the newly arrived ones. As soon as her children are old enough, she would like to work.