- Fled Syria in 2015 to avoid military conscription and ISIS-controlled territories
- Selected for Vatican-sponsored relocation during Pope’s 2016 Lesbos visit
- Faced 8-year integration process including degree validation and language barriers
- Now part of Rome community with son blending Syrian/Italian identity
- Sant’Egidio program has relocated 450+ refugees since 2016
In a modest Roman apartment smelling of za'atar and fresh pizza, Hasan Zaheda’s paintings of war-torn Damascus hang beside his son Riad’s basketball trophies. This juxtaposition embodies the Syrian refugee family’s dual reality – haunted by displacement yet building new roots through Pope Francis’ unprecedented 2016 intervention...
The Zahedas’ journey began when Hasan, an architect, refused to join Assad’s military. After surviving three failed Aegean Sea crossings, they became among 12 refugees personally selected by Francis during his Lesbos visit. We thought it was divine intervention,recalls Nour Essa, Riad’s mother. A Catholic Pope saving Muslim refugees – that rewrote every rule.
Integration proved complex despite Vatican support. Italy’s recognition process for foreign degrees forced Nour (a biologist) and Hasan to re-enroll in university. Their case reflects broader EU challenges – only 42% of Syrian refugees achieve full economic integration within 5 years (OECD 2023). Sant’Egidio’s intensive program combats this through:
- 800-hour Italian language courses
- Cross-cultural mentorship with local families
- Job placement in partner businesses
Regional parallels emerge in Germany’s Startblok initiative, where refugees co-design integration curricula. Unlike Italy’s charity-led model, Berlin’s approach reduced bureaucracy delays by 30% (Migration Policy Institute). Both highlight the need for systemic reforms as Mediterranean migrant arrivals surge 57% year-over-year.
For Riad, now 10, identity straddles Roman slang and Arabic soap operas. His Syrian flag-adorned bedroom features sketches of neighborhood churches by his grandfather. We’re teaching him our history,says Hasan, while letting him become fully Italian.This delicate balance fuels the family’s resilience – praying nightly for the hospitalized Pope while planning Riad’s Spanish lessons.
As migration policies polarize Europe, the Zahedas’ story offers measured hope. Their apartment block now houses 19 refugee families from 8 nations, with Riad mediating playground disputes in three languages. Nour summarizes: Integration isn’t paperwork – it’s people choosing to see your humanity first.
