s-1
| I came to Germany from the Bosnia-Herzegovina war zone in 1992, with my three small kids. |
s-2
| In Sarajevo, the situation was very bad with snipers, grenade droppings etc. |
s-3
| So I was very glad to be in a safe place with my children. |
s-4
| It was nonetheless very difficult for me, because my parents and relatives were still in Bosnia and I had to leave my whole life behind me. |
s-5
| Although I was happy to be safe, I was haunted by my war memories. |
s-6
| I have strong organizational skills, a lot of confidence and I was not worried about doing something wrong just because I didn't know the laws here. |
s-7
| So I achieved a lot of things. |
s-8
| They said a refugee with a tolerated refugee status could not start an association, but I founded an association and also became its president. |
s-9
| They also said that a refugee with a tolerated refugee status was not allowed to leave the municipality. |
s-10
| However, I traveled back to the war zone hundreds of times and brought all the collected aid items there. |
s-11
| I thought to myself, I am neither a prisoner nor a criminal. |
s-12
| The German citizens gave me so much for my country, my people and children – I have to bring them what I receive. |
s-13
| I said to myself, the police can arrest me when I come back – but they did not arrest me. |
s-14
| The refugees arriving at the moment are not here because Mrs. |
s-15
| Merkel said that, but because they want a safe life for their children. |
s-16
| Every normal person would do the same in that situation. |
s-17
| You go to the place offering safety and hope for the children. |
s-18
| For me, it is important that we quickly start with integration efforts so that the refugees learn German and understand the way of life here. |
s-19
| It's also important that they mingle quickly with the German population. |