Thank you

Since 2019, students all over the world have followed Ismael on his journey and, at the end, written a message home. This page celebrates them.

46,987

messages written home

95

countries

9

languages

8

years

Messages per year

  1. 7,2382019
  2. 4,4102020
  3. 4,0052021
  4. 7,5062022
  5. 3,9992023
  6. 8,9222024
  7. 9,4532025
  8. 6,7002026

Where the students were

The 30 countries with the most classrooms, by distinct connections.

  1. 1United States
  2. 2Denmark
  3. 3Australia
  4. 4Norway
  5. 5Canada
  6. 6Spain
  7. 7United Kingdom
  8. 8Netherlands
  9. 9Türkiye
  10. 10New Zealand
  11. 11Myanmar (Burma)
  12. 12Finland
  13. 13Hong Kong SAR China
  14. 14Japan
  15. 15Philippines
  16. 16France
  17. 17Colombia
  18. 18Germany
  19. 19Ireland
  20. 20Switzerland
  21. 21Belgium
  22. 22Sweden
  23. 23Austria
  24. 24Romania
  25. 25United Arab Emirates
  26. 26Taiwan
  27. 27Malaysia
  28. 28India
  29. 29Peru
  30. 30Czechia

Messages home

A selection of the messages students wrote home at the end of the film, in their own words.

ik wilde jullie graag helpen en heb echt mijn best gedaan om dit zo goed mogelijk te laten verlopen mama, het spijt me. Muhammed opzoeken was een slimmere keuze geweest dan dat ik terug zou gaan naar Syrië… Sorry lieve mama, het spijt me.

Netherlands

mom i went to look in greece for my brother. I know that i may not ever see you again but i hope you and the family can come join us. Please have hope that you will find us. Tell my sisters and dad that i love them. I love you to

Canada

i love you lots mum im sorry stay safe and i hope to see you all soon xxx

United Kingdom

Mom, I thought that if I could find my brother we could figure out how to help you and the rest of the family together. However, now it seems that I may be stuck here and have no way of coming back or getting into Greece. We may be stuck in the refugee camp for a while. I'm sorry but will try my best to get out and help you whatever way I can. Love, your son.

Türkiye

I made up my mind to stay here and hope that you and the family can cross over and although it will be hard i will do whatever it takes to make sure we are all reunited again. I will always love you and i hope that you will forgive me for the decision i have made.

United States

Mom, i decided to stay in turkey. I'm sorry. But it's not for myself, its for the rest of you guys too. I will study here as well as work here for money, get a bank account to transfer money for the medicine. Maybe even after a while, I will have enough money to move all of you here with me. For now, stay safe. Love you

United States

dear mum, I have found where he is and i did it because you sent me on this trip to find him he is in a camp i can bring him back to our family and i hope the war will be over soon i love you so much and wish you, dad and my sisters the best keep safe love you and i hope i will be back soon. Hide and keep yourself safe.

New Zealand

Jeg valgte å bli igjen i tyrkia for å samle penger og gå på skole, jeg kommer til å savne dere, men håper vi kan møtes igjen etter krigen er over. Jeg skal prøve å få meg en tysk konto og overføre penger for å hjelpe pappa. Unnskyld, men jeg tror det blir best sånn og håper vi kan gjenforenes snart

Norway

Hola mamá, he decidido ir a Grecia a buscar a mi hermano. Siento que tengo que hacerlo, pero no será fácil. Las condiciones en las que vive no son buenas y quiere estar con nosotros porque está solo. Haré todo lo posible para que podáis venir. Mucha fuerza a papá. Os quiero muchísimo.

Spain

jeg har valgt at blive i tyrkiet, da det er sikkert, og jeg håber at i snart kan slutte jer til mig. De giver mig mulighed for at lære sproget, så jeg håber jeg kan få mig et job, og dermed også kunne få en bankkonto og sende penge til jer.

Denmark

You told me I needed to find my brother and finally I have reached him and can join him we will be in a safe refuge camp together until the war is over and we will rejoin you soon stay safe mom love you

United States

Hi mommy!!! Kiss kiss. I miss you so much. I’m choosing to stay here so that one day you and the rest of our loving family can come here. I’m gonna form a life here so we can live happily ever after. I’m sorry if that’s not what you wanted me to choose mommy. But i think this is the best. Brother is in Greece and cant come back right now. I love you mommy.

United States

Missionen var at finde Muhammed. Jeg elsker dig og resten af familien og håber I får nogle penge til fars medicin og at krigen snart vil stoppe og I kan tage til Grækenland og få asyl forhåbentligt ligesom jeg. Pas på jer selv<3 Ismael

Denmark

hei mamma. Dette er et vanskelig valg jeg selv velger å ta. Jeg har bestemt meg for å dra til Hellas for å prøve å møte broren min. Elsker deg mamma og håper vi møtes igjen

Norway

Hey mom, it is good to see you again. I am really sorry for leaving you guys alone back in Syria. But if I were to find Muhammed again, we could work together to get you guys back to safety. Other than that, we could get enough money to treat dad's injury. As always, love you mom. And send my regards to the others also.

Malaysia

Hej mor. Jeg er i sikkerhed. Jeg håber ialle sammen har det godt. Jeg har truffet en beslutning som har været meget hård for mig. jeg har valgt at tage til grækenland, for at finde min bror. Vi kan kun genforenes, hvis i tager den samme rejse som mig. men det synes jeg ikke i skal. jeg beder for, at krigen bliver bedre i Syrien. Jeg elsker jer alle, må Allah være med jer.

Denmark

Jag kan bygga grunden till vårt liv här. Lära mig språket, skaffa ett jobb, ett boende, skaffa kontakter. Ett nytt liv helt enkelt. Så att ni eventuellt kan komma hit snart till ett nytt hem. Allt gör jag för vår familj.

Sweden

I have decided to go to Greece to try and find my brother. I will try my best to keep you updated. I will be as safe as I possibly can. I hope you and the family can stay healthy. I hope dad gets better. I love you so much.

United States

I know where Muhammed is, but I can't get to him. I will stay in Turkey where it is safe an continue to try and help you, dad, and my sisters move here. It is the safest option, and I am sorry I couldn't reach Muhammed. I hope you all stay safe and I love you.

Canada

Ich bleibe in der türkei mein bruder ist nach grichenland ich arbeite hier hart und hole euch auch bald hier her

Switzerland

you sent me here to find my brother and he needs to see me. we will find a safe place together and then you can come join us and we will all me safe together. love you mom

United States

Jeg må dra til broren min. Jeg kan overføre penger til dere men jeg kan ikke hjelpe han når jeg ikke er ved han. Dere kan jeg hjelpe på avstand. Savner dere. Dette kommer til å gå fint. Elsker dere alle.

Norway

I needed to do what was best for me and my brother, I'm sorry, I love you so much. I love my brother and need to make sure he's safe, being in Syria was too dangerous for rme, this was my escape.

Australia

I'm so sorry mom, I've chosen to stay in Turkey and I hope you, dad, and my sisters can come too soon. I also have good news, I know where Muhammed is! The bad news is that he's in a refugee camp in Greece, and isn't able to come back to Turkey. Again, I'm very sorry mom. Hope you all willl stay safe. I love you.

Nepal

hola mama. me voy a grecia con mi hermano para conseguir dinero para volver a casa con todos, no se cuando volveremos pero espero que pronto. te quiero y dile a papa que todo saldra bien 🙂

Spain

Hello mom, I decided to search for my brother since Syria is in very bad condition. I feel very bad for you, i honestly didn't think I would make this choice. I love you mom, i hope the best for you and your health. I hope we can come together again as a family. Love you.

United States

Mamá, he decidido quedarme en Turquía trabajando para ganar dinero y que todos vosotros podáis reuniros conmigo aquí. Hasta entonces, os enviaré dinero para los medicamentos de papá. Estoy aprendiendo turco y espero encontrar trabajo. La media luna turca me va a ayudar a encontrar alojamiento y otros trámites que debo hacer.

Spain

Jeg dro hit fordi jeg ble sendt ut for og finne broren min og jeg skal gjøre det ferdig, håper dere klarer og komme dere hit også. Elsker deg mamma

Norway

hej mor, du ved hvor højt jeg elsker dig! men min mission var st finde min bror, jeg håber du forstår mig! jeg får oprettet en konto og sendt pengene til dig, jeg ved i klare den! elsker dig

Denmark

Målet mitt var å finne broren min, å nå skal jeg endelig det. Når jeg dra til Hellas skal jeg overføre penger til deg. Håper pappa har har bra etter at du har kjøpt medisin.! Elsker deg

Norway

ich versuche das muhammed und ich euch aus syrien holen können und das vater wieder gesund wird.

Germany

Sizi çok özledim. Buraya gelmeniz için çalışacağım. Kendimizi topladıkdan sonra Muhammed için de çözüm yolları düşünürüz.

Türkiye

Kære mor jeg det var meget svært at beslutte, hvor jeg skulle tage hen. Jeg håber at jeg kan finde min bror og komme tilbage til dig. Jeg kommer til at savne dig og de andre rigtig meget. Jeg håber vi ses igen

Denmark

kære mor jeg har taget en meget svær beslutning og jeg tager til Grækenland for at finde Muhammed for jeg savner ham rigtig meget jeg håber at jeg kan nå hjem og genforene vores familie

Denmark

Hello my mother, I have decided to carry out my mission and find my brother. Please take care, I hope dad gets better soon. Sorry. I love you. Love, Ismael

United States

I decided to stay in Turkey for a little while in hopes that someday you and the rest of the family will join me here, away from the war until the war is over. There is a center where the family can learn new skills and come together as a community. I hope you and the rest of the family are safe and i will try to send the money once i have opened the bank account.

Norway

Me he quedado en Turquía para que vengáis conmigo aquí. Mohamed está en Grecia en un campo de refugiados. Os espero en Turquía. Te quiero.

Spain

Jeg beklager mamma, jeg elsker dere så høyt og jeg vil ikke at noen ting vont skal skje dere. Men jeg klarer ikke å leve uten broren min, jeg klarer ikke å ikke gå å lete etter han når jeg vet at han ikke klarer denne reisen alene, bli hos pappa og søstrene mine, ta vare på dem. Elsker dere. Klem ismael

Norway

maman je vais chercher mon frère car j'ai enfin su ou il êtait donc je vais aller le rejoindre pour l'aider et rester ensemble. Bisous je t'aime maman

France

Because there is no point of me going to greece if you and the family are back home in syria. i love muhammed but i want you and the family as well. But maybe muhammed will try and get a ticket to turkey syria and then we can travel altogether with the money i earned! Love you tell evryone said i said love you and miss you all Xx

Poland

Mon frere est en securite en grece pendant que vous etes en danger. Je devais revenir vous proteger et prendre soins de papa. Apres que la guerre est finis notre frere vas venir nous rejoindre

Canada

beste mama, ik heb besloten om in turkije te blijven in de hoop dat jullie hier ook naar toe zouden komen. ik heb deze beslissing genomen om jullie hopeliijk een betere toekomste te brengen. mijn broer kan ik helaas niet redden.

Netherlands

Hoi mam! Ik heb muhammed gevonden, hij is in Griekenland. Ik heb besloten om hem te gaan opzoeken, dit betekend dat ik jullie niet meer terug ga zien. Het spijt me zeer! Ik ga proberen zo veel mogelijk geld te sparen en het op te sturen. Ik hoop dat ik Muhammed terug zie en dat alles goed komt met jullie. Ik hou van jou! Groetjes XXX Ismael

Belgium

I'm going to grece I'm so sorry mom I will try to come back but their are no promises I will miss you guys so much take care. I love you forever and always.

United States

Jeg har gået så langt og rejst så meget for at få det her til at virke. jeg har besøgt mennesker med kontakt til Mohammed, og arbejdet for penge til fars ben. Jeg giver ikke op nu, jeg er alt for tæt på. Jeg elsker dig mor og jeg håber alt går dig vel.

Denmark

Er dødsliten, har gått i år og dag for å finne ham, er nok redd det blir umulig å finne ham. Håper det går bra der hjemme med dere og pappa. Håper broren min har det bra, jeg skal prøve alt jeg kan for å finne ham igjen snart.

Norway

Jeg savnet familien min å håper at krigen snart er over jeg har lyst til å beskytte dere så lenge jeg kan. Håper du ikke er sint. Glad i deg.

Norway

Mamá lo siento pero no podré volver a casa, me tengo que quedar en Turquía. Espero que podáis venir conmigo pronto. Te amo mucho mami

Spain

I chose to come to Greece with my brother and we together will find a way for y'all to be with us. I promise we will find a way for all of us to be together again. Love you

United States

Jeg sendte originalt ud for at finde min bror, det har jeg i sinde at gøre. Jeg elsker ham meget højt, jeg elsker også jer men han er helt alene og jeg føler han har mest brug for mig. Jeg håber vi kan alle sammen være sammen igen snart

Denmark