Dear John, 

Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day, but we’ve decided to ditch the hearts and flowers this year, and celebrate love in different forms – from finding a welcoming new community to discovering a life-changing new passion!

Here are three superb stories of refugees resettled to Portugal that we think you’ll love. Follow the Albakkar family from Syria, along with Sediqa and Hassan from Afghanistan, as they build new lives after escaping war and conflict.

Watch the whole video now by clicking on the button below, or keep reading to hear more about their individual stories:

Community on campus

In the Portuguese town of Covilhã, the local university created an innovative programme to welcome refugees on campus. The Albakkar’s family of eight who fled the conflict in Syria, now live in converted student accommodation and have found a real sense of belonging on campus. This new-found community even inspired the family to start their own business, selling traditional Syrian food and treats!

Becoming 'Fundanese'

In the Portuguese city of Fundão, the mayor made a bold new policy to not only welcome refugees, but to help them fully integrate into the community and become ‘Fundanese’ too. Over the last 10 years, this policy has been helping people like Afghan refugee Sediqa to settle into life in the city, while helping to boost Fundão’s economy.

Discovering new passions

19-year-old Afghan refugee, Hassan, was incredibly shy when he first came to Portugal. But a new-found love for boxing has helped him to meet others and gradually reveal more and more of his personality. Hassan trains five times a week. Boxing not only helps him stay fit, but it helps him to think ahead, to create goals, and to reach those goals.

Happy Valentine’s Day from everyone here at UNHCR!

Monia Hassan 
International Supporter Care
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

P.S. Don’t forget to share the love by posting the full video on your socials!