Following Merkel's photo opportunity: A refugee's journey towards a new start
In 2015, a selfie with Angela Merkel at a refugee shelter in Berlin catapulted 27-year-old Anas Modamani into the public eye. Since then, Modamani has become a significant figure, using his platform to share his experiences and inspire others.
With almost 170,000 followers on Tiktok and over 91,000 on Instagram, Modamani still displays the iconic selfie on his social media channels. The image, which went viral, symbolised the welcoming culture in Germany during the refugee crisis.
Born in Syria, Modamani came to Germany as a teenager without his family. He learned German, worked as a courier or in a supermarket, studied media economics, became a German citizen, and is now a video journalist at Deutsche Welle.
Modamani's message to his followers is that coming to Germany is just the beginning, and one must work hard to succeed. He praises Merkel, stating she saved his life and is the strongest woman in his eyes.
Modamani finds Berlin multicultural and delicious, with a variety of Arabic, Turkish, and Chinese food. However, he finds some German eating habits peculiar, particularly the variety of bread available, as he only knows one kind - the Arabic kind.
Modamani's political nature is evident in his words and actions. He believes that Syrians are not just refugees, but are part of Germany's future. Many Syrians, he points out, are doctors, engineers, and journalists in Germany. In fact, many have founded companies, created jobs, and pay taxes like everyone else.
Modamani's new project, his documentary film, is a reflection of his desire to give people a realistic picture of Germany. He plans to portray ten different Syrians in Germany, of whom five have succeeded and five have not. The documentary film is currently in the planning stages, with Modamani working on scripts and other preparations, and they might shoot it in the winter.
Modamani travels to Syria to visit his parents or siblings, but he doesn't want to stay permanently. He is too attached to Berlin and his girlfriend from Ukraine. He met Merkel again for coffee in her Berlin office, and their meeting was another reminder of the opportunities Germany offers to those who are willing to work hard.
Merkel describes in her book "Freedom" how a refugee asked for a selfie with her in 2015. That refugee was Anas Modamani, who, through his perseverance and determination, has achieved a kind of turbo-integration in Germany. His story is a testament to the potential of refugees and a reminder that coming to a new country is just the beginning of a new journey.
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