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After fleeing conflict in Syria and reuniting with his father in Luxembourg, teenager Shaheen Aljourdi quickly adapted to his new life, recently winning a national science award with his classmates, while his family continues to grapple with concern for loved ones still living in a country in crisis.
The journey of Shaheen Aljourdi and his family is nothing short of remarkable. After years separated from his father, the teenager arrived in Luxembourg in 2022, and has already made a name for himself in a national science competition.
It’s hard to believe that this confident, articulate young man spoke no French just three years ago. Born in 2008 in the United Arab Emirates while his father was working there, Shaheen spent most of his childhood between the UAE and Sweida in Syria. His father moved to Luxembourg in 2020, with Shaheen, his mother, and two brothers joining him a few years later.
“It was a completely new country and I didn’t know anything,” Shaheen recalls, adding: “But it was a new experience. I met a lot of people, and I got to see my dad again after three or four years apart, that was amazing.”
After spending some time in a reception class for newly-arrived school students, Shaheen quickly found his footing, much to the pride of his father, Ezzat, a civil engineer with a degree from the University of Damascus. He too found support in Luxembourg thanks to an employer who gave him a chance.
Ezzat says he was warmly welcomed from the outset by his employer in Luxembourg, something he deeply appreciated. The supportive environment, from the management to his colleagues, helped him feel included and at home, rather than like a stranger, he states. He even tells people that he considers them his new family.
Award-winning innovation recognised in Luxembourg
The Aljourdi family’s path has been shaped by a desire to leave behind the turmoil of Syria – a decision not without heartbreak. But in March this year, they had reason to celebrate when Shaheen, along with classmates Rodrigo Von Mayer Goulart and Yigit Günes, won an award at a science fair hosted at the Geesseknäppchen forum by the Foundation Young Scientists of Luxembourg (FJSL).
Their project, Aura, impressed the jury and earned them a place in a European science competition in Latvia this coming September.
Shaheen explains that the project involves a wearable bracelet designed to monitor UV radiation from the sun, as these rays can cause skin damage and increase cancer risk. The data is then displayed through an app that offers practical tips, like applying sunscreen or wearing protective eyewear, he states.
A shadow that lingers
Yet even as Shaheen looks to the future, the shadow of his homeland still weighs heavily on the family. The Aljourdies, once hopeful after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, now speak with concern about the deteriorating situation in Syria, especially for the Druze community to which they belong.
In April, they were deeply troubled by reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights detailing abuses committed by security forces under the new leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was recently received by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ezzat admits that, despite their happiness and stability in Luxembourg, it’s painful to think about the relatives they left behind. He still has several siblings in Syria, as does his wife, and they’re all enduring hardship. He often tells himself they should be grateful for the life they have now, while knowing it doesn’t ease the suffering of those still back home.
For Shaheen, the future clearly lies in Europe, though Syria is never far from his thoughts: “It’s a country in crisis, but it’s still my country. I miss it. But here I have so many more opportunities, at school and for the future. So yes, I think I’ll stay in Europe.”