I am Shahid Ahmad Haidari, 24 years old, from Afghanistan.

There are moments in life when you have no choice. My life in Afghanistan
had become a fight for survival. I didn’t leave my country seeking adventure
or a better life; I left out of necessity: to survive. I took only what I could
carry: a few possessions and a heart weighed down by pain. I left behind
everything I knew — my home, my friends, my native streets… and a piece of
my soul will forever remain there.

When I arrived in Bulgaria, many thought my journey had ended. In truth,

it was only just beginning. I was faced with a new world: an unknown lan-
guage, a different culture, fresh hardships. Yet even here, I found light. Bulgaria gave me a chance to begin anew. I was met with compassion, warmth,

and people who welcomed me as their own. Sofia became my second home.
I am still struggling, I am still learning, but I am no longer on my own.

My favorite word in Bulgarian is свобода (freedom). It’s a word I hold in my
heart. Freedom gave me the possibility to dream again, to build a new life.
Most of all, I miss my family: my mother, my father, my brothers and sisters.
I dream of the day when I can embrace them again. I hope that day comes
in a world without war.

I want people to understand this: do not see us simply as refugees and others. We are all just people, with our own fears, dreams, and hopes. We want peace. We want a home. We just want to be accepted.