Meet Salma, from Syria
I got a lot of support from APGES. I got access to the university where I was fully funded by APGES. And also, during my studies, we had this amount of salary helping us living in Portugal. And then while I was searching for a job and doing internship. It was a great help for me to start my life and have a better future.
How did you find APGES?
I was applying for scholarships. And one of the scholarships that I applied for was the one here in Portugal. I was selected almost one year after and in 2018 we came to Portugal.
Did you come with more people?
Yeah, we were almost 50 people. In an Air Force plane.
Where did you find the application?
There was a group on Facebook, for Syrian students, where they shared all the applications. My cousin was here, selected to the same scholarship, but she was almost finishing. She is not here now, she got married in Germany. She finished her master when I arived.
How did you find the support APGES gave you?
I got a lot of support from APGES. I got access to the university where I was fully funded by APGES. And also, during my studies, we had this amount of salary helping us living in Portugal. And then while I was searching for a job and doing internship. It was a great help for me to start my life and have a better future.
How did you choose the university?
It was in Nova and it was a very good experience. I did the master between the ITQB (Instituto de Tecnologia Químic e Biológica) and FCT (School of Science and Technology). In the beginning it was hard because the education system is completely different. And I had to deal with different transports to different places. It wasn't easy.
And how did you choose your course?
I applied to continue more or less in the same area. My previous bachelor’s degree was in biotechnology engineering and I chose to do biochemistry for health.
Where were you staying?
When we arrived, we were for some time in the Academia Militar. But then I moved to the residence in Lumiar. And later I moved to the residence in Baixa, the SPRU (Sociedade Promotora de Residências Universitárias SA).
And did you know Portuguese colleagues at the University or at the Residence?
I was the only non-Portuguese person in my course. And then I did the thesis for the master in Oeiras at IGC (Gulbenkian Science Institute). It was international, but my supervisors were Portuguese. It was a great experience. I joined to do a summer school, but then I liked a lot and I chose one of the groups in IGC to do the thesis. It was good.
What was the university like in Syria?
The university was very different. We studied everything from books, no presentations, no laptops. My university was in Aleppo, one of the most affected cities. Before the war we used to have a very good education system, was a strong one, then started to be not good.
Education is something very important for Syrian people in general. And many people push their kids to continue until the end of their university. And even after, even with these difficult conditions, they try always to support studies.
How was the experience of starting work?
It was very, very hard. I think it wasn't only for me. I think it's a situation for everyone here in Portugal, the job market is very hard. The salaries are very low comparing with the cost of living and rents. It was very difficult to find my first job. My first job was an internship. And then I started with the temporary contract of six months and another six months contract. Then I got very lucky and now I got a two years contract. And honestly, without the help of the scholarship, I couldn't do it because the other option for me would be like either to leave Portugal or to do something that would bring me more income. And it's not only me, it's for everyone. I know I have many Portuguese friends facing the same issue, but I think I was lucky.
What’s the job you’re doing now?
I am a lab technician in the molecular biology field in a nonprofit organization.
Your idea is to stay in Portugal?
I want to stay. Honestly, I don't want to leave. If I can continue with better conditions, I will never think of going away. And I think now I have the possibility to improve my conditions. And this is giving me some hope. There was some time while I was searching for a job, I lost hope and thought: okay, what I'm going to do? Because I think even for Portuguese people it is the same. At some point they give up and they have to leave. Here I don't feel that I am a stranger. I don't know how to explain. I like the country and I like the people.
Do you have any family?
In Portugal, no. I used to have my whole family in Syria. Now my mom is with my brother in Dubai, they managed to go out last year. I still have a big part of my family there. My uncles and aunts are in Syria, my friends, many people, but my small family is not there now.
Do you already have Portuguese nationality?
No, not yet, but I applied.
APGES did everything you needed, or could there be something that could be better?
They were always helpful. Whenever we needed help. I always got support. And it was good.
Bring more students. This is what I wish. I know that some people may have some difficulties. I didn't have those difficulties. But what I wish is that more students may come.
Did you encounter President Sampaio?
We were in several events and he was there. And actually, he was very, very nice. Because when I arrived in Portugal, I had a broken leg. And once he came and we were in an event, he asked me how I felt? Because for me, this is very strange, a former president asking about my health! I'm sorry we lost him.
Thank you.