Within the project, we also concluded with the stories NEW FACES OF SLOVENIA.

In June, the BODE+ project, in which we collaborated with the associations ADRA Slovenia, Infokolpa, and the Cultural Association Gmajna, was completed. The project was co-financed with funds from Impact4Values and took place in Slovenia from November 2023 to June 2025.

Project’s main initiatives

The project No barriers to equality, rights and values is a continuation of the BODE project, where we started empowering individuals with a migrant background for advocacy activities. In the expansion of advocacy activities, we realized the active involvement of participants in raising awareness and gathering signatures for the petitions:

• Public initiative and petition for the improvement of Slovene language learning programmes for foreigners
• Public initiative and petition to ensure adequate meals for all children

Media appearances

As part of the project, we also participated in televised interviews, in which we discussed our initiative to improve Slovenian language learning programs for foreigners. In July 2024, the head of the MKD association, Furkan Guner, appeared in the studio for Nova24 television.

You can read more about the interview that took place on July 7, 2024, and about other mentions of the project in the media HERE.

Closing event

We bid farewell to the project on March 21, 2025, at the SAZU premises in Ljubljana. The cultural event was accompanied by artistic performances by the participants and an exhibition that was also open for viewing after the event itself.

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A collection of 24 stories within New Faces of Slovenia

Although the closing event announced the official ending of the project already back in March, we continued to publish interviews and stories of our project participants until the end of June. A large part of the BODE+ project consisted of the so-called New Faces of Slovenia. Each story offers insight into their challenges and achievements on the path of new beginnings while living in Slovenia. We shared the first 9 stories during the BODE project, and by the end of BODE+, we had collected a total of 24. All of them are gathered on our social media channels and under the posts on the project page HERE.

Not only did our project participants identify and adress main systemic problems, that present many obstacles on their way to integration, they were also motivated to share their thoughts on potential solutions, which they presented in an eloquent manner.

We kindly invite you to meet the New faces of Slovenia.

The post Ending of BODE+ project first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

In Monday’s news show Tednik on the first program of Television Slovenia, a segment was prepared titled Expensive or Valuable Foreigners. Journalist Anka Pirš also visited the premises of the Intercultural Dialogue Association. She invited MKD representative Furkan Guner for an interview, along with three other migrants who shared their experiences about the labor market situation for foreigners: Sally Hafez, Mohamed Alburai, and Ghaida Ayoub.

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The news piece followed the recent International Refugee Day. Although not all the interviewees on the programme were refugees, the journalist presented different stories of migrants who had to rebuild their lives in Slovenia. Due to wars, climate change, or poor economic conditions, millions of people must seek a better life elsewhere than at home.

The European Union has been implementing an increasingly restrictive asylum policy lately. On one hand, it emphasizes the shortage of labor, while on the other hand, numerous controversial practices in the employment of foreigners are emerging. The article raises the question: Are refugees, immigrants, migrants a cost, a tool for making profits, or equal members of our society?

MKD representative Furkan Guner stated that he does not see himself as a cost to the state of Slovenia. He says he wants to contribute as much as possible. He highlighted the problem of highly educated foreigners who cannot work in their profession in Slovenia due to language and other systemic limitations.

Ognjen Radivojević from the Slovene Philanthropy and Ana Samobor from the Society Ključ also made their statements for the programme. They emphasized the systemic issues related to work permits and residence permits and the plight of foreigners who are forced to enter into employment contracts where they are exploited by employers.

You can watch the entire video segment below or HERE.

The post Interview statements on Tednik first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

Who am I?

I am Seda Şirin, a 33-year-old Turkish teacher from Turkey. I graduated from Mevlana University in the city of Konya, where I studied teaching Turkish. Due to political changes in Turkey, many educated individuals, including myself, were declared to be dangerous. I was forced to leave my homeland.

Coming to Slovenia

When I arrived in Slovenia, I had to face numerous challenges. Although I am a teacher, I could not practice my profession. Excellent Slovenian was required everywhere – even for the work of a cleaner or cashier. Additionally, due to my appearance – because I wear a headscarf – I often faced discrimination. Most companies do not hire covered women. Sometimes people cannot believe that I am a teacher. In their eyes, I am ‘inferior’ because of my faith and clothing.

A different path to success

Because my husband also faced challenges with employment, we wanted to create something new together. At first, we prepared Turkish dishes only for friends, and then we opened the restaurant ‘Our Kitchen’ (Naša kuhinja) together with two other partners. For me, this is one of the greatest achievements in Slovenia – proof that even migrant women, despite all obstacles, can contribute to the community.

Numerous systemic challenges

And the experience that marked me the most was as a mother. My daughters often faced unfair and inhumane treatment in kindergarten and healthcare facilities. My older daughter was discriminated against in kindergarten because of our religious dietary habits – for example, we do not consume pork.

I have repeatedly asked the kindergarten if I could bring her food from home, but this was not allowed. On days with a meat menu, she was often hungry, consequently less focused and tired. Because of this, some teachers thought she did not understand the material or was not following the lessons. At one point, they even suggested that she had an autistic disorder – without any professional basis or appropriate diagnosis.

When we changed kindergartens, the situation really improved significantly – the teachers and staff of the new kindergarten showed much more understanding and empathy. My daughter was finally accepted as she is – with all her habits, needs, and childlike energy.

In the healthcare system, I encountered humiliation – as a woman who does not speak Slovenian fluently and wears a headscarf. Healthcare workers often treated us with contempt. One of the hardest experiences was when the dentist physically removed my daughter from the office because she was scared and did not want to open her mouth.

Despite everything, I believe that we can create a community where we will be understood and accepted – even if we do not speak perfect Slovenian or wear different clothes.

Challenges and solutions for better integration of newcomers to Slovenia,
according to Seda:

• Language: Full knowledge of Slovenian is often expected even for basic jobs.
  Solution: More free language courses and programs for recognizing foreign qualifications.
• Discrimination based on religion and appearance: A headdress is often an obstacle to employment. Solution: Awareness campaigns, equal treatment in hiring.
• Inclusive educational and health environment: Some institutions do not understand the different needs of children and often encounter prejudices or unfair treatment.
  Solution: Training for educators and medical staff to work with migrant families, particularly understanding the different cultural or religious backgrounds, which is essential for acceptance.
• Professional fulfillment: Despite education and experience, job opportunities are very limited.
  Solution: Support for entrepreneurship among migrants, greater inclusion of highly educated foreigners.

Let’s fight the stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. Every individual deserves the opportunity to participate in society on an equal footing. Let’s stand together for a more inclusive and equitable future.

“The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.”

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 “𝑩𝑶𝑫𝑬/𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒛 𝑶𝒗𝒊𝒓 𝑫𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊” 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝟒𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 – 𝒕𝒐 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

You can read more about the BODE+ project HERE.

In cooperation with ADRA, the project is also on this page.

The post New faces of Slovenia: Seda from Turkey first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

Who am I?

I am Antoine Nshimimana, a 40-year-old psychologist from Burundi. I studied psychology at Hope Africa University and have worked as a clinical psychologist and a volunteer with the Red Cross in Burundi, where I helped in hospitals and also in a refugee center. Additionally, I worked as a cook in Burundi and later at the Nigerian embassy.

I speak as many as 7 languages: English, French, Slovenian, Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Kefera, and Kiforero.

Road to Slovenia

In 2015, I left my home due to political problems. My refusal to join a political party made me the target of persecution. I was tortured and beaten several times. I was hiding in different cities in Burundi for 7 years and I didn’t see my family for 3 years. In 2022, I left Burundi. The path took me through Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia and after two months I arrived in Slovenia, where I received the status of international protection and was reunited with my family after three years of waiting. During this time, I learned Slovenian and reached the B1 level.

Despite all the obstacles, I learned the language, got a job, and now I am building a new life in Slovenia with my family. I am convinced that every individual deserves the opportunity for a decent and inclusive life.

Challenges and solutions for better integration of newcomers to Slovenia,
according to Antoine:

• Language: Slovenians value knowledge of the Slovenian language – learning the language is key.
• Solution: more free courses, learning in communities, more mentorship.
• Housing: it is difficult to rent an apartment as a foreigner.
• Solution: more transparent rental policies, greater protection for tenants.
• Employment: discrimination in the labor market – as soon as they find out you are a foreigner, they do not want to cooperate.
• Solution: more companies should provide opportunities for people with a migrant background.
• Stereotypes: some Slovenians believe that refugees are criminals.
• Solution: more intercultural programs and events where Slovenians and migrants spend time together, get to know each other and break down prejudices through personal contact.

Let’s fight the stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. Every individual deserves the opportunity to participate in society on an equal footing. Let’s stand together for a more inclusive and equitable future.

“The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.”

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 “𝑩𝑶𝑫𝑬/𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒛 𝑶𝒗𝒊𝒓 𝑫𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊” 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝟒𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 – 𝒕𝒐 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

You can read more about the BODE+ project HERE.

In cooperation with ADRA, the project is also on this page.

The post New faces of Slovenia: Antoine from Burundi first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

The news team from the Al Jazeera Balkans channel visited the premises of the Intercultural Dialogue Association in Ljubljana. They invited Sally Hafez, a mother of four children from Egypt, for an interview. She stated that her children often come home from school hungry. Among other things, Sally is actively involved in the BODE+ project, within which we recently submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Education with a petition for providing school meals for all children, regardless of their religious or cultural background.

Under the news segment, Al Jazeera Balkans team stated the following:

Many non-government and religious organizations in Slovenia are warning about the discriminatory school meal system, which is considered one of the best in Europe. Children who do not eat certain foods for religious, cultural, ethical, or other reasons often return home from school hungry. The state has left the resolution of this issue to the goodwill of individuals in school administrations.

The representative of the MKD Furkan Guner Association also spoke with the journalist Nikola Milosavić Aleksić about the current situation regarding meals in Slovenian schools. He stated that schools simply do not provide meals that all children could eat within their religious or cultural frames (not even vegetarian). Without a medical certificate for allergies, dietary adjustments in schools are not possible. The latter was also confirmed by the Egyptian Sally Hafez.

In the name of the partners in the project and the petition, Katja Utroša from KD Gmajna also spoke about the issue. She stated that the Slovenian school system needs to make a better effort in the area of inclusivity. Children should feel welcome and included in schools. Schools are still tackling inclusion and integration in various ways, both in terms of nutrition and language learning for migrant students.

You can view the entire news segment in the video below.

The post Al Jazeera Balkans: Inclusive meals first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

Who am I?

I am Mohammed Jadallah, a Palestinian from Gaza. I graduated in physiotherapy and worked in several hospitals, including Al-Shifa and Al-Wafa. I treated children, burn victims, and people with orthopedic issues. While working, I also developed my creative side – photography, design, and video editing. Since my youth, I have been writing – about Gaza, Palestine, and the injustices we experience. Writing led me to rap music. In this, I found a new way of expression.

I believe that with openness and kindness we can create a society without division.

Coming to Slovenia

I left Gaza due to constant wars and oppression. I lived without basic conditions, without freedom of movement. Everything had a price. I survived five wars – even before the current genocidal situation. I simply could no longer live without hope.

Living in Slovenia

Today in Slovenia, I am looking for freedom, security, and a better future – for myself and my family. One of the biggest challenges is learning the language. I am learning Slovenian every day. I understand more and more, I can speak basic sentences. But without the language, it is hard to find stable work in my field.

Challenges and achievements

Sometimes my skin color attracts unwanted looks. But it doesn’t break me. I have wonderful Slovenian friends by my side who accept and support me. I am also proud of my artistic journey. I have performed at numerous events and on big stages all over Slovenia. This gives me strength and motivation to move forward.

Let’s get to know each other. Let’s connect. Let’s be human.

Challenges and solutions for better integration of newcomers to Slovenia,
according to Mohammed:

•  Learning a language: Without a language, there is no work and connection.
•  Solution: More free courses and conversation groups.
•  Housing discrimination: It is very difficult to find accommodation without the help of Slovenians.
• Solution: Greater openness, assistance in finding accommodation, protection for tenants.
• Social distance: Prejudices still exist.
•  Solution: Dialogue, cultural exchanges, and joint events.

I am also collecting help for my family in Gaza. You can help through this link.

Let’s fight the stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. Every individual deserves the opportunity to participate in society on an equal footing. Let’s stand together for a more inclusive and equitable future.

“The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.”

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 “𝑩𝑶𝑫𝑬/𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒛 𝑶𝒗𝒊𝒓 𝑫𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊” 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝟒𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 – 𝒕𝒐 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

You can read more about the BODE+ project HERE.

In cooperation with ADRA, the project is also on this page.

The post New Faces of Slovenia: Mohammed from Palestine first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

Today, together with representatives of ADRA Slovenia and Gmajna Cultural Association, we organized a press conference on the occasion of the handover of the petition signatures to the Ministry of Education.

We spoke to the press about our initiative for the availability of meals for all children in Slovenian schools. We emphasised the importance of children’s access to food. We pointed out that the current situation, in which there is a lack of alternative choice of meals, constitutes a form of discrimination. We highlighted the problems of hunger, emotional distress and the feeling of exclusion of children who face this type of discrimination.

The submission of the petition and the press conference were reported on various news portals:

• Skupina nevladnih organizacij s peticijo glede prehrane v šolah at 24ur.com

• Vložena uradna peticija, ker otroci v šolah ostajajo brez hrane at ljubljanainfo.com

• Po pritoževanju o lakoti v šolah vložena uradna peticija at sobotainfo.com

• Skupina nevladnih organizacij s peticijo glede prehrane v šolah at sta.si

• Otroci so v šolah pogosto lačni in izključeni – nevladniki zahtevajo spremembe at pomurec.com

• Nevladniki vložili peticijo za raznovrstno hrano v šolah video segment on daily national news Dnevnik.

An excerpt from the public initiative:
The main document regulating the right to religious freedom in the Republic of Slovenia is the Religious Freedom Act (Zakon o verski svobodi, 2007), which, among other things, directs that religious freedom must also be guaranteed and inviolable in public life, which includes, among other things, various forms of expression of religion. A form of expression of religion is also the choice of food that is in accordance with religious teachings. Religious freedom must therefore also be guaranteed in the context of school meals, which the Nutritional Guidelines for Educational Institutions (Zavod Republike Slovenije za šolstvo, 2023) do not pay enough attention to. READ MORE HERE.

The public initiative was prepared by migrants within the BODE+ project in cooperation with ADRA Slovenia, the MKD association and the Gmajna Cultural Association, and with the support of the EMV-LII project.

Signatories of the initiative:

Intercultural Dialogue Society, Humanitarian Society ADRA Slovenia, Cultural Society Gmajna,
Infokolpa Initiative, Slovenian Philanthropy, Peace Institute, Danilo Kiš Cultural Centre, Humanitas,
The Krog Institute, the SLOGA Platform, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Legal Centre for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (PIC), the APIS Institute, Amnesty International Slovenia, the Islamic Community in the Republic of Slovenia, the Diversity Association, the ČKZ Institute and the Slovenian Vegan Society.

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for this.

Sources:

Bajt, V., Frank, A., Jalušič, V., & Ladić, M. (2023). Odgovorno delovanje za vključujoče lokalne skupnosti (CIFER): Nacionalno poročilo – Slovenija. Mirovni inštitut.

Giorda, M. C., Bossi, L., Messina, E., & Risteco, C. (2014). Food and religion (in public food service). Consorzio Risteco. Hajdinjak, M. (2024). Kaprice in »pravice« v šolski prehrani. Vestnik. https://vestnik.svet24.si/clanek/aktualno/v-premislek-kaprice-in-pravice-v-solski-prehrani-1375386 

Ministrstvo za kulturo. (2019). Gradivo k posameznim točkam dnevnega reda 4. Seje sveta vlade RS za dialog o verski svobodi. Vlada Republike Slovenije. https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MK/Verska-svoboda/Svet-Vlade-RS-za-dialog/Gradivo-4.-seja-Sveta.pdf 

Porić, E. (2024). Pregled izkušenj in praks zagotavljanja obrokov brez svinjine v slovenskih vzgojno-izobraževalnih ustanovah: Poglobljena analiza anketnega vprašalnika in šolskih jedilnikov. Islamska skupnost v Republiki Sloveniji. https://www.islamska-skupnost.si/wp-content/uploads/Analiza-prehrana-19.-9.-2024.pdf 

Zagovornik načela enakosti. (2024). Starši z vrtcem dosegli dogovor o razumni prilagoditvi prehrane za otroke na podlagi vere. https://zagovornik.si/izdelki/starsi-z-vrtcem-dosegli-dogovor-o-razumni-prilagoditvi-prehrane-za-otroke-na-podlagi-vere/ 

Zakon o verski svobodi (ZVS). (2007). Uradni list RS, št. 14/07.

Zavod Republike Slovenije za šolstvo. (2024). Smernice za prehranjevanje v vzgojno-izobraževalnih zavodih. https://gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MVI/Dokumenti/Osnovna-sola/Smernice-za-prehranjevanje-v-vzgojno-izobrazevalnih-zavodih.pdf

The post Petition submitted to the Ministry first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

Who am I?

I’m Martin and I come from the Czech Republic. I grew up in a small village and attended a technical high school, and then studied at the Higher Vocational Pedagogical School. I’m a graduate preschool teacher and a classroom teacher. Later, I also studied school psychology and special pedagogy at the Faculty of Arts in the Czech Republic, with an emphasis on counseling services. After graduation, I worked as a primary school teacher. At the same time, I also taught at a private music school, where I taught piano, guitar and flute.

Coming to Slovenia

I moved to Slovenia to reunite with my family. I didn’t have any major problems with this, but the language and bureaucracy were the biggest challenges for me. The process of nostrifying my diploma has been dragging on for 14 years and as a result, I am still unable to work in the public sector.

Paths in Slovenia

Initially, I received only 180 hours of Slovene course, so I mostly learned the language on my own. In the beginning, I worked a lot as a volunteer, but then I found a job at a private school, where I initially helped as a volunteer, and later I was employed indefinitely. Now I have my own company (S.P.), and for four years I have been working at Cene Štupar, where I participate in primary education for adults.

My pride and accomplishments

I’m most proud of my family, who support me and stand by me. I’m also proud that I’m now fluent in Slovenian. It also means a lot to me to work with a private music school and to have built a wider circle of friends.

Challenges and solutions for better integration of newcomers to Slovenia,
according to Martin:

• Language learning: The system of assigning foreigners to language courses is not effective. Groups often bring together Slavic speakers and those who come from completely different linguistic backgrounds, which complicates the learning process.
• Solution: Instead of mass courses, it would be better to organize individual learning or smaller, customized groups and paid tutors who would teach foreigners in a more personal way.
• Bureaucracy: The nostrification of degrees takes a disproportionately long time and prevents foreigners from taking up employment in their professions.
• Solution: Simplification of procedures and clearer instructions in several languages.
• Social support: Foreigners often do not find a responsible person to help them solve their problems. The procedures take too long, sometimes it takes up to a year to get a single appointment.
• Solution: A more efficient system of administrative units and more support centers for foreigners.

Most Slovenians are friendly and open to foreigners, but the system is still not well adapted enough for their integration. Foreigners often find themselves in a situation where they cannot live and work normally due to slow and complicated procedures.

Let’s fight the stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. Every individual deserves the opportunity to participate in society on an equal footing. Let’s stand together for a more inclusive and equitable future.

“The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.”

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 “𝑩𝑶𝑫𝑬/𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒛 𝑶𝒗𝒊𝒓 𝑫𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊” 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝟒𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 – 𝒕𝒐 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

You can read more about the BODE+ project HERE.

In cooperation with ADRA, the project is also on this page.

The post New faces of Slovenia – Martin from Czech Republic first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

The event was organised under the BODE+ project by APIS in partnership with ADRA Slovenia, KD Gmajna, and MKD.

We presented our 2 main objectives:

1. Improving language courses for migrants in Slovenia, and
2. Public initiative for school meals for everyone in Slovenia.

We also organized an intercultural program featuring performance artists, singers, actors, and painters from more than 10 nationalities. They presented their work in front of many visitors, who filled out every sitting and standing spot of the exhibition space.

The post BODE+ project closing event first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.

Who am I?

I’m Moustafa, a 42-year-old Egyptian architect and BIM developer who has been living in Slovenia for a few years. With 19 years of experience in Egypt, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Europe, I combine architecture with technology and programming. I graduated in architecture in 2004 and later received my master’s degree from the University of Wismar in Germany in 2019.

My career path

My international career started in Egypt, then I moved to Dubai, where I worked in the field of architecture and project management for eight years. At the same time, I completed my master’s degree with an emphasis on sustainable development. My next opportunity was in Slovenia, where I was able to combine my global experience with new professional challenges.

It is important that we do not judge the entire community based on individual bad experiences, but focus on those who support equity and diversity, because they are the ones who move society forward.

Life in Slovenia

Moving to Slovenia was professionally easy, as I had already secured a job in advance. Still, cultural adjustment has been a challenge. One of the memorable experiences was in a café where a stranger loudly harassed my wife in Slovene. Although we didn’t understand the words, the waitress quickly intervened and apologized to us.

Family is important

My greatest pride is my family. My children have access to quality education, extracurricular activities, and are accepted by society, which is a stark contrast to my own childhood.

Challenges and solutions for better integration of newcomers to Slovenia,
according to Moustafa:

• Language learning: Slovenian is challenging, but crucial for inclusion.
• Solution: More accessible courses, work-based learning, more community programs.
• Bureaucracy: Complex procedures for residence and work permits.
• Solution: Simplification of procedures, multilingual instructions and support centres for migrants.
• Social Integration: Cultural Differences and Local Restraint
• Solution: Cultural exchanges, mentoring, inclusive events.
• Housing issues: Discrimination in renting out housing to foreigners.
• Solution: Transparent tenancy policies, tenant protection, incentives for landlords.

Let’s fight the stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination. Every individual deserves the opportunity to participate in society on an equal footing. Let’s stand together for a more inclusive and equitable future.

“The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.”

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 “𝑩𝑶𝑫𝑬/𝑩𝒓𝒆𝒛 𝑶𝒗𝒊𝒓 𝑫𝒐 𝑬𝒏𝒂𝒌𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒊” 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝟒𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝒊𝒏 𝑺𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 – 𝒕𝒐 𝑱𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

You can read more about the BODE+ project HERE.

In cooperation with ADRA, the project is also on this page.

The post New Faces of Slovenia – Moustafa from Egypt first appeared on Medkulturni dialog.