Mohammad Amin, 28, was born in Iran to an Afghan migrant family. He never visited Afghanistan until 2019, when he traveled to Herat to obtain a student visa. “Even though I was born in Iran, I could not continue my studies there unless I applied for a student visa from Afghanistan,” he said. “The trip gave me the opportunity to visit my country for the first time. I found Herat very beautiful, especially its ancient historical sites, which made a strong impression on me during my short stay.” For Amin and his family, life abroad as refugees was challenging. “It does not matter whether you are educated or not; as a refugee in Iran, you still experience humiliation and racism,” he said. Originally from Bamyan, Amin has two brothers and two sisters.

Amin maintained his Afghan cultural identity through his family, the language, traditions, food, and the values he grew up with. “Even though I have never lived in Afghanistan for a long time, I have always stayed connected to Afghan culture through my parents and the Afghan community around me.”

Nevertheless, Amin found his way by studying nursing in Iran. “One of the main reasons I chose nursing was the opportunity it provided to relocate to developed countries, continue my education in related fields, and benefit from a strong job market,” he explained. He believes nursing is a profession that remains valuable and in demand anywhere in the world.

Despite many hardships and obstacles, Amin was eventually admitted to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran. Yet this achievement did not guarantee a secure future. He knew that, even after graduation, he would still not be allowed to work legally in Iran.

“When I saw that nurses were welcomed all over the world, whereas in Iran the situation was completely different, I decided to study German intensively so that I could migrate to Germany as soon as possible. I chose Germany because the migration process was easier and faster compared to other countries,” he says. Amin made this decision during his last two years of studies and learned German while pursuing his university courses.

Amin entered Germany on a skilled worker visa. After successfully passing the professional recognition (equivalency) exam, he began working as a nurse in the emergency department of a hospital in Hamburg. “Migrating to Germany was a major turning point in my life, and I am happy with the decision I made,” he says. He now plans to continue his education and hopes to use the opportunities and resources available to him to support and help his compatriots.

He suggests that refugees and migrants learn the German language and continue their education in order to secure a better life for themselves. 

His message to the world as an Afghan living abroad is one of hope and recognition:

“Afghans are highly talented and intelligent people. Unfortunately, geographic and political circumstances have deprived many of them, especially women, of opportunities, and they have often faced discrimination and racism in their new homes. But if Afghans are given equal access to education and opportunities wherever they live, they will undoubtedly prove their abilities and achieve remarkable success.”