Hawder messaged me a poem, roughly translated from Kurdish into English. He had written it when he arrived in Germany:
I will go
the streets take me toward unknown
trains transfer me to disappointment
headlong go for your appointment
not just this...
go to the queue of happiness
fall behind your colourless sight
I met him at the transit camp, near the beach of Skala Sikamineas, where many of the boats reach the Greek Island of Lesvos, the first step into Europe.
He was amongst the other young men, women and families who found themselves at the nearest transit camp, a former nightclub venue called Oxy, and took selfies in front of the sea while figuring out the next step.
Hawder said the trip is not easy, with everybody arriving wet and cold, dehydrated and exhausted. Thousands have died as boats capsize. Their bodies continued to wash up on shore but there was no more space in the cemetery.
As a result of conflict and instability in countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia, displaced populations worldwide have swelled to over 65 million according to UNHCR, a number unseen since World War II, with Turkey, Pakistan and Lebanon as the top three hosting countries.
Many have their eyes set on Europe and over a million refugees and migrants passed through the Mediterranean in 2015 alone, passing through the Greek islands or braving the route to Italy through the unforgiving Sahara and sea. More are arriving in Germany than any other European nation and the majority of asylum-seekers are young, with an estimated 30% of applicants under 18.
For those that arrive to their destination, the start to a new life is slow and uncertain. Some have been given papers to stay for one or three years so that they can search for work, but don't know what will happen after that time. Others have been given a date by which they need to leave and return to home countries deemed safe, such as Afghanistan.
While some are thriving, taking German classes, finding work and settling into routines, young people in particular, are getting lost in the cracks of an overwhelmed social system. As far-right, populist parties gain ground across Europe and push back on open-door policies especially in Germany, there are stricter laws, longer processing times, and more red tape.
As cash benefits are cut and access to language classes, vocational training and work permits are dependent on a decision on asylum status that can take years, many rely on volunteer-run initiatives and goodwill to fill in the gaps of welfare and services.
