The First Day of School – A Dream Come True

At the beginning of September, six children of the Afghan refugee family in Portugal taken in by AMURT experienced a moment that, for so long, had been denied to them: their first day of school. Coming from a reality where education was an inaccessible privilege, especially for girls, this was more than a simple start of the school year — it was the fulfillment of a dream.

These children, who until recently lived under oppression and fear, where women were forbidden to leave the house or show their faces, took their first steps in an environment of freedom and hope. A place where they can learn, grow and aspire to a future with equal opportunities.

Not yet knowing how to speak Portuguese, read or write, they entered the classrooms with hearts full of love and gratitude. The thirst to learn, to have the same opportunities as any other child, was visible in every gesture and smile. It was a day of deep emotions — the children's joy was palpable, and the gratitude in their parents' eyes moved us all.

In a world where we so often take for granted the opportunities we have, these families teach us the value of each small victory. They come from a place where freedom was denied, but here, in Portugal, they are beginning to write a new story, full of hope.

The universal language of love was present in every interaction, and yesterday, in the various schools where these children now study, it was evident that when love guides the process, everything else — learning, integration, growth — flows naturally.

This is only the beginning of a new journey, and we have much to learn from them. With gratitude in our hearts, we walk this path together.