“It was a dream that I could live in a country that respects me and feel safe among people and

my family,” says Haifa (35), who left her birth country of Bahrain due lack of security, persecution, and injustice towards women. She lived in fear there, and nearly died after being forced to undergo surgery. She applied for asylum in the Netherlands and experienced a lot of stress in the refugee camp, but is now comfortable and happy living in an apartment: “I feel sad that I live away from my family and my country, but it cannot be compared to the sense of safety I feel now.” Throughout her journey, she maintained her self-reliance and was unafraid of change: “Life in the Netherlands has made me stronger… I think this is my strong point in my whole life that I can rely on myself.” In the future, Haifa dreams of studying, working, and traveling: “I want to see more places in the world… I want to go to more music festivals because music is my passion. These are my dreams for the future.” Full Story