He began his escape at the age of thirteen, when his father was abducted by a Taliban group. He left life in a small village and a childhood on a small farm in Afghanistan. From there the escape went to Iran and to work in a stone factory.
– It was difficult to stay in Iran. I had no papers and was afraid of the police. I couldn’t go out but just work and be inside the factory, he says.
“Learned a lot here”
Eventually Ali ended up in Sweden and at the Industrial Program at Spångbergsgymnasiet in Filipstad.
– When I came to Sweden, I knew nothing. I learned the language here, I learned math here. I have learned a lot here. But I couldn’t stay.
New life in Belgium
Just under three years ago, Ali, like many other unaccompanied Afghan youth, chose to flee Sweden. He had his sights set on Paris but in Belgium he was stopped and put in custody. Here, a new asylum process was started and today Ali has both a permanent job and a residence permit in Belgium.
Hear more in the clip about how Ali looks back on his time in Filipstad and how he feels in Belgium now.