VOICES From Migrations | Milad Khasi's story

“VOICES From Migrations” is a project co-funded by the European Union exploring untold migration. Milad Khasi moved from Syria to Belgium in 1999, fleeing war. This is his story:

Milad Khasi, in the European Institute of Arab Culture | VOICES From Migrations

“I still remember the smell of sea air in Latakia, my home by the Mediterranean, where the sun cast golden lines across the shore and life moved with a rhythm that felt eternal. Back then, I was a respected school director in Syria. My days were filled with purpose, and I never imagined I'd start over in a country where I didn’t even know how to say “Bonjour” properly. 

But things change. In 1999, after years of delays, refusals, and near-impossible visa applications, I arrived in Belgium. I knew no one but a friend who came before me. My French was non-existent, my status uncertain. For the first nine years, I worked in a Lebanese restaurant, 60 hours a week, 11 years straight. I went from managing schools to washing dishes and mopping floors. I wasn’t ashamed, I was grateful. Work is dignity. 

Eventually, I returned to my passion. Bit by bit, I began teaching Arabic. It started small, just a few students at my house. Now, I manage a cultural centre in Brussels where I teach Arabic and share our traditions. We even wrote textbooks in Syrian and Lebanese dialects—our way of preserving culture while building bridges. 

Today, I work closely with the European Commission and Belgian police, helping with integration. I’ve been honoured to be trusted with that responsibility. My children grew up here, fluent in Flemish, confident in their future. I’ve bought apartments in both Belgium and Syria. I never imagined that. 

But I haven’t forgotten where I came from. Latakia, with its winding streets and warm sea breeze, still lives in me. I miss it, the food, the people, the sounds. But Syria changed. War, fear, and a system that no longer felt like home. 

Europe gave me safety and freedom. I believe in giving back, whether through work, language, or kindness. If I had one message to share, it's this: don’t just survive, contribute. Buy that house. Learn the language. And never forget the journey.”

Interview by: Amanda Uwase, Liman Zhang, Honorine Akoguteta, and Antonio Santini

Milad Khasi being interviewed by EucA students

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Co-funded by the European Union

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.