She was working as an apprentice in our learning group; she was originally from Syria and had been forced to flee her native country over ten years ago. I asked her cautiously if she would be willing to tell the young people about it. She agreed and spoke of her long journey through deserts and across water – always at night. Deeply moved, she described how everybody on a boat travelling ahead of hers had drowned... Later, she told me that she had cried at home the day before the presentation. She had been afraid to talk about it all, but had eventually decided to do it anyway, thinking: “Do it for the children and for a better world!” – After her story, one pupil said: “I’ll never forget that.” Another remarked quietly: “I’ve got goosebumps all over.” I was reminded of the motto of the day: “Do what needs to be done now.” We gave her a bouquet of flowers. With tears in her eyes, she told us: “You are my second family.”
