“Step by step, I will make something good” Ali, 23 years old, Pakistan
Ali arrived in Greece in 2019 at the tender age of 13. Alone and facing an uncertain future, he carried with him only the hope of finding safety and a place to belong. Having fled Pakistan and survived a perilous journey to Greece, he soon encountered xenophobia and discrimination. Without access to child protection services, Ali endured a series of hardships, including exploitation, forced labor, and homelessness. “I had no money, no house and no one to help me. It was a really hard time for me’’, he admits.
“Things changed when I arrived at The HOME Project. That’s when my life started to get better”, he says. For the first time, he had stability, felt protected, and was surrounded by people who genuinely cared for him. “They supported me with everything I needed, from my documents to helping me see that I could have a future here. They shaped my life. They even got me to go to school. Back then, I couldn’t understand the point of learning Greek. I was complaining every morning that I didn’t want to go to school. Looking back, I am grateful that they insisted”, he reflects.
During his time at The HOME Project, Ali found friendship, support, and a place to call home. “Every week we would all go out together to explore the city. We also had fun in the evenings, playing games, listening to music or watching films during movie night. I made many friends there, and over time, I started to think of the other boys and the staff as my family. Even now, on my day off, I go back to visit the shelter. I enjoy talking with the team and sharing our news”, he says.
This newfound stability and support gave Ali the foundation to face the next challenge in his journey: securing his legal status in Greece. Initially, his asylum requests had been rejected, and without a special residence permit, he risked being deported. With the support of The HOME Project’s legal team, who explored every available option, Ali underwent a long and emotionally draining process to be recognized as a victim of trafficking and forced labour. He had to recall and recount every detail of his experiences in Greece before the authorities. After seven years, his case was successful, allowing him to continue to live legally in the country as an adult. Ali’s case is only the second successful one of its kind in Greece and the very first in Athens, marking an important milestone for our organization. “I am so happy about this decision. I waited many years for this. Now I can focus on building my future here. Step by step, I will make something good”, he emphasizes.
Ali now lives in a small apartment he shares with a friend and works at a local restaurant next door. There, he grills meat, prepares salads and helps with everything else in the kitchen. He enjoys the work and wants to learn more so he can become a better cook. “My dream is to open up my own restaurant. I hope that one day I can be my own boss and be fully independent”, he highlights. As for the cuisine of his dream restaurant? “Greek, of course. I love souvlaki so that’s what I want to be making”, he says with pride.
When asked what advice he would give to his younger self, his response comes without hesitation: “Go to school, play sports, and learn the language. Once you can speak Greek, everything becomes easier. You are able to connect with people, and this can open up more opportunities”.