überleben und über leben

For as long as there have been people, they have been fleeing from danger and searching for a better life. No sea, no desert, no mountains and no border can prevent this. The will to survive and the longing are stronger.

A series of portraits and interviews of former refugees - Berlin 2017

 

Abdul

“To be happy, we must open our hearts and be grateful for what life gives us. We must not forget our past.”

 
 
Excerpt from the interview with Abdul
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Samir

"In my free time, I go to the library, to the gym and I like to play the guitar. I played in a rock band in Damascus. Unfortunately, I don't have an electric guitar here, so I go to a guitar shop and play."

 
 
 

Ziyad

"Whenever I see someone who is happy, I am also happy at that moment.

When I have my secondary school leaving certificate, I want to become a nurse and then study medicine to help other people.

I'm good at cooking, I like to paint, play volleyball and since a few months I've been playing theatre and have performances at the Maxim Gorki Theatre and the Volksbühne."