Facade portrait: Lule Duriqi

Lule Duriqi

* 1977 in Pristina, Yugoslavia

Immigration to Bremerhaven: 1993

Lule Duriqi was born in 1977 in Pristina, the current capital of Kosovo. She grew up there with five siblings. The war in Yugoslavia is part of her childhood and youth memories: “It was common to always be afraid and to be cautious. And then there were the demonstrations,” she recalls.

“Today I think: Although there was fear, there was also a lot of courage. People still went to those demonstrations, even though they didn’t know if they would return. But they went along and fought for their values.”

“Today I think: Although there was fear, there was also a lot of courage. People still went to those demonstrations, even though they didn’t know if they would return. But they went along and fought for their values.”

Within a very short time, the family finally decided to flee in 1993. The then 16-year-old was faced with a fait accompli. Passports for the journey were quickly obtained. With a heavy heart, Lule Duriqi’s older brother had to be left behind; he was of age and subject to conscription. Applying for a passport could have meant he would have to go to war. With a group of escape helpers, the family reached Germany after a long journey. Although it was agreed with the escape helpers that they would go to Langenhagen—where the Duriqi family had relatives—they were dropped off in the middle of the night in Düsseldorf. “We were let out behind a huge billboard. You just stand there. With bags and children. My father then tried to negotiate. But the escape helper said to us: Either you go now, or I call the police.”

Lule Duriqi

“You always see a bit of yourself in others”

The family continued by taxi to their relatives near Hannover. A few days later, they reported to the authorities and eventually were accommodated in a reception center for refugees in Bremerhaven. The family remained in the asylum process there for more than two years. “During this time in Bremerhaven, I also received a deportation order twice. In that moment, someone pulls the ground from under your feet, and you fall into nowhere. Will it continue for me? Both times, I sought the help of a lawyer and finally received a residence permit.”

Shortly thereafter, Lule Duriqi began learning German and catching up on her qualifications. In 2000, she started an apprenticeship as a retail salesperson and worked in this profession for many years in Bremerhaven. In 2013, she finally transitioned into the education sector, where she still works today. “I deal a lot with refugees in my job,” she shares. “2015 was particularly striking for me. You always see yourself in others and their stories. That helped me to process my own experiences.”