WELCOME TO HIDDEN HERO
An initiative where the untold stories of resilience, strength, and courage come to life. Discover the heroes among us who inspire, overcome, and empower.
New Stories
“We must rise above politics, for when you look into my eyes, you are seeing a reflection of yourself. We are no different; rather, we are all one in the same human experience.”
— Elias Hatimi
About Me
Hi, I’m Elias, Initiator of hidden hero
I am journalist, humanitarian aid worker and activist from Afghanistan, currently based in Germany. Enjoy reading the stories, and looking forward to your contribution!
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Stories
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The Longing for Freedom is Stronger Than Any Tyranny
Farangis Sawgand’s journey began in Afghanistan, where she grew up witnessing the challenges that women face in a society marked by conflict and inequality. “These experiences deeply shaped my passion for social justice and ultimately led me to dedicate my life to advocating for the rights of women and marginalized communities.” Farangis is a poet,
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A Needle in A Haystack
Wahid Azizi admires Germany for its significant contributions to the world and its status as one of the biggest economic powerhouses. However, he is aware that it can be challenging for newcomers to adjust to aspects of life in Germany, such as punctuality, which may not have been emphasized back in his home country of Afghanistan, and to learn
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Embracing Diversity and Working for Inclusivity and Justice
Lava Khwahish Mohammadi, 26, was born and grew up in Pakistan, but she has been socialized in Germany. She comes from a political family – her father was a Deputy Minister in Afghanistan, and she has six siblings who are also politically active. Lava also spent some time in Afghanistan. She says: “I fondly remember relatives
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Eine kurze Rückkehr nach Hause
Behishta Koofi, 20, wurde in einer großen Familie mit fünf Schwestern und zwei Brüdern geboren. Sie verbrachte ihre Kindheit in Taschkent, der Hauptstadt von Usbekistan. Im Jahr 2014 beschloss die Familie, zurück nach Afghanistan zu ziehen, da alle ihre Verwandten dort lebten. Sie begannen ein neues Leben, ohne zu wissen, dass es auch dieses Mal
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A Brief Return Home
Behishta Koofi, 20, was born in a large family of five sisters and two brothers. She spent her childhood in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. In 2014, the family decided to move back to Afghanistan since all their relatives were there. They started a new life without knowing that this time it was also for
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Kurzfristiger Druck führt zu neuer Karriere
“In meinen ersten Tagen in Deutschland habe ich manchmal, wenn ich mit meinen Freunden aus war und wir zusammen in einem Restaurant gegessen haben, für alle bezahlt, bis ich gemerkt habe, dass es hier üblich ist, nur für sich selbst zu bezahlen,” sagt Nemat Soltani, 30, der vor vierzehn Jahren aus der Stadt Herat in
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Remaining Resilient in the Face of Adversity
For Farahnaz Oyghan Elyar, 31, arriving in Germany was a mixture of excitement and apprehension. “Everything was different from Afghanistan, from the language to the culture. My new journey filled me with uncertainty.” Two years earlier, she left her place of origin and arrived in Germany. She is an influencer and activist raising her voice
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From Uncertainty to a Bright Future
Maria Hosein, 36, lives in Germany since she was just 6. She remembers the first days after arriving in Germany. “I felt uncertain and lost. I was attached to my parents and siblings. We were in a shared accommodation for refugees, which was quite isolated from other houses. School was a good escape and a
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Wer bin ich? Ein Afghane oder ein Deutscher?
Fahim Farooq, 33, wurde in Deutschland geboren. Er ist IT-Spezialist, Porträt- und Modefotograf und hat einen Bachelor-Abschluss der Universität Köln. Mit seinem fotografischen Talent gelingt es ihm Menschen zu begeistern und ihr Interesse zu wecken. Fahim verwirrt manchmal seine Identität: “Als jemand, der afghanische Wurzeln hat, ist das Schwierigste, dass ich wegen meiner Haut-, Ton-
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Der Weg vom Flüchtlingskind zum Entwicklungshelfer
Madiena Fakhri, 30, floh zusammen mit ihrer achtköpfigen Familie aus Afghanistan nach Deutschlandkurz bevor die Taliban 1996 die Macht im Land übernahmen. Sie hat drei Schwestern und zwei Brüder, die derzeit als Ärzte und im sozialen Bereich für den deutschen Staat tätig sind. Fast vier Jahre lang hatte die Familie mit Rückschlägen und Chaos zu
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From a Home to a Camp, Moving Forward
After the collapse of Afghanistan by the Taliban, thousands of Afghans fled the country. Among them, Khalid Wardak, 37, evacuated to Germany. “I was shocked by the whole collapse of Afghanistan. It is just like a faded memory. Coming from home to a refugee camp was stressful. Getting used to a camp was very different.
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Mehr als eine Fallnummer: Die menschliche Seite des Asyls
Saadat lernte Deutsch durch eine Mischung aus formellen Kursen, informellem Unterricht und – am effektivsten – täglichen Interaktionen. „Sehr bald begann ich, mich sozial, bürgerlich und politisch zu engagieren“, sagt er. Er hatte zwei Hauptziele: seine Rechte und Pflichten in einer entwickelten Gesellschaft zu verstehen und einen sinnvollen Beitrag zu seiner Gemeinschaft zu leisten, anstatt…
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More Than a Case Number: The Human Side of Asylum
Saadat is actively involved in several social and cultural organizations, with a strong focus on organizing community programs, fostering connections between different groups, and advocating for the rights of migrants.
Hidden Hero 