Syrian refugee mother of five finds a fresh start with her family in Albania

In 2018, Nour and her family were forced to flee Syria, and she recalls that period as clouded by the chaos of war and filled with pain. "I left Syria in 2018, and I don't remember much because so many things have happened since then. Looking back, all I see is the pain of leaving my country. Facing the war there was very hard for us," Nour says. Now in Albania, her youngest child, Wasein, stays with her while her other four children adapt to a new school, learn a new language, and gradually become part of the community.

Nour, a 31-year-old mother of five, recalls the journey that led her family from Syria to Türkiye in 2019, and eventually to Albania, where they sought asylum in September 2023. "We didn’t know much about Albania, so I guess it was fate that brought us here," she reflects. When Nour and her family arrived at the borders of Albania, they were provided with information on the asylum procedures and the support services available by the border authorities and a UNHCR partner, Caritas Albania. They were then directed to the National Reception Centre for Asylum in Tirana, where they stayed temporarily until securing permanent accommodation.

The decision to stay was driven by the promise of safety and a stable environment, which Nour and her husband hoped would help them rebuild their lives. She adds, "Of course, the beginning here in Albania was very hard for us all. Being in a foreign country is always difficult. We decided to stay when we saw that Albania has rules and laws, schools, and hospitals. We realized we had the opportunity to find job here. "
Nour and her family have been navigating the complexities of adapting to life in a new country. The language barrier and finding adequate housing for a family of eight, including her five children, husband and sister, have been pressures that weighed heavily on Nour.

During this period, the family received support from another UNHCR partner, Refugee and Migrant Services in Albania (RMSA). They were helped to find a decent place to live and received financial assistance to help them cover their rent. The program also provided essential items like bedding and kitchen equipment, making their new home feel more welcoming. Financial aid helped them meet their daily needs, easing their transition into a new life. Additionally, they received help to quickly enrol their children in school, which was a huge relief for Nour.

Her children’s progress in school brings Nour a great sense of hope. "My oldest daughter Jud is 12, and she tries to help her younger siblings with schoolwork and the language," Nour shares with pride. Her other three children, including Melek, 11, and twin boys Ahmed and Denes, 9, have started speaking Albanian at school. "It's hard to learn a new language, but they are determined and study both Albanian and English," she explains.

Nour herself is committed to learn Albanian, believing it is key to fully settling in her new community. "It’s very hard studying the language while taking care of five kids," Nour admits. "I attend language courses offered at the National Reception Centre for Asylum, but I feel that going twice a week is not enough for me to learn the language. Unlike my kids, I don't have other opportunities to practice, so I find it difficult. I think the best way for me to learn is by communicating with my kids in Albanian and learning from them."
 

Nour hopes to find job opportunities once she reaches a certain level of proficiency in Albanian. She expresses the desire to have something personal of her own. "Of course, in the kitchen, I would still need some help from other people, but if I ever have the opportunity, I would like to have my own kitchen," she says.

She goes on to share her children's aspirations: her oldest daughter wants to be a hairdresser because she likes to work with hair, while her other daughter aspires to be a teacher. Nour adds that her twins have different interests: "Ahmed, who is the most hyperactive one, wants to be a police officer, while his brother Denes loves to build and fix things."

"Our kids are always the main priority. All of our attention goes to their future."

As Nour navigates the complexities of her new life in Albania, she says her family remains her source of strength. Together, they look towards a future where they hope to offer possibilities to their children, grounded in the community they are slowly but determinedly building around them in Albania.

Thanks to the vital support from UNHCR and its partner RMSA, Nour and her family began rebuilding their lives in their new community, accessing services and rights provided by the asylum legislation framework in Albania. This assistance, funded by the European Union and other unearmarked donors of UNHCR, has been instrumental in helping them find this fresh start.