Fatimah: I am proud of the effort I am making. For my job, for my home, for my child who goes to school, for learning Greek. I like trying. I don't like staying at home doing nothing, just sitting around. In Afghanistan, I always worked, making carpets (wall hangings). By hand. One carpet a month. It's very difficult.
Now I work in restaurant. I'm in charge of the salads. I chop the lettuce, tomatoes, onions, vegetables, and I do all the prep work. After work, I go to the nursery to pick up my son, Elias, I do the housework, and then I go to Greek lessons. Only on Tuesdays do I have free time. That's the day I dedicate to myself.
Fatimah is a resilient woman from Kabul, Afghanistan, who arrived in Greece five years ago after a difficult and dangerous journey across borders. Landing on the shores of Lesbos with no belongings, no phone, and no certainty, she took her first steps into a new life by asking a stranger to call her husband. Their emotional reunion days later marked the beginning of her rebuilding process.
Today, Fatimah lives in Greece with her family, where she balances work, motherhood, and education with unwavering determination. She works in a restaurant kitchen, proudly managing the preparation of fresh salads. After her shift, she picks up her young son, Elias, from nursery, takes care of their home, and attends Greek language classes in the evenings. Tuesdays are the only day she keeps for herself—a small but important act of self-care and autonomy.
Originally skilled in weaving intricate carpets by hand in Afghanistan, Fatimah continues to build with her hands—this time carving a future grounded in effort, learning, and belonging. Her motivation is rooted in her belief in progress and self-reliance.
Fatimah’s story is one of quiet leadership—of a woman who moves forward every day not only for herself but for her family and future, refusing passivity and choosing action.