Wiyar Sharif, a “Deutschlandstipendiat”:
Afghanistan is always at the back of my mind
Wiyar, your parents fled from Afghanistan to Germany with five children in 1994. What situation were you in back then?
Back then, we lived in the capital Kabul. My mother was a gynaecologist at a hospital and my father had a good position at the Ministry of Defence. There had already been political unrest in Afghanistan at that time. In Kabul, where it was especially bad, there was chaos and anarchy. The city was frequently shaken by bombing raids. My parents decided that it was too dangerous for our family to stay. In 1993, we fled to neighbouring Pakistan and eventually, taking several detours, we landed in Münchberg in Brandenburg.
You were still a kid. Can you still recall everything that happened back then?
Yes, I can still remember very well – our flight too. It was hard, especially since we could not be sure if we would be able to stay together. In Münchberg, we lived in a refugee home until the application for asylum was approved. My older brothers went to school. My sister, my little brother and I visited the kindergarten and quickly learned German. For my parents, it was very important that we all get a good education.
Today, you are a student of Civil Engineering at TUM. Why did you choose this course of studies?
I was always fascinated by significant and well-known buildings such as the Olympic Tower or the Allianz-Arena. Especially, I wanted to learn about the project controlling and the project management behind such complex construction projects. Also, in the back of my mind, I always wanted to do something that can connect to Afghanistan – and what would be better in a ruined country than to be able to help rebuild it by drawing on knowledge from a course of Civil Engineering.
So you are planning to go back to Afghanistan one day?
I don’t think I will want to move back altogether. Germany has become my second home. But I’m still dreaming of supporting projects in Afghanistan and to contribute to rebuilding the country. It’s no secret that, considering my biography, I was very lucky. I am very grateful – and I want to give something back to show gratitude for everything that was given to me.
From this semester onwards, you can count on a “Deutschlandstipendium”-scholarship at TUM. What does this mean for you?
At the beginning, I wasn’t sure whether I would be able to get the scholarship (laughs). Fortunately, it worked out this semester. That’s great, of course. Now, I won’t have to work alongside my studies and will have more time. But it is also the moral support that is important to me, the direct contact to my sponsor and to the economy. Also, my fellow scholars are all nice and open-minded – a great network in which I feel in good hands.
What is it that you learned from your situation?
My former football coach used to say: “Never give up”. I think that’s a really important motto. No matter what life has to offer – successes, but also the inevitable setbacks – you must never give up. Just keep on and have faith in yourself. Even though I speak German perfectly, it wasn’t always easy for me in Germany. I usually approach other people openly and friendly. I believe that’s important for a good integration and a better society.
EveryTUM- student can apply for the “Deutschlandstipendium”. Apart from the academic performance, it is also the “soft factors”, family background and commitment, that are taken into account. Also, it is possible to apply more than once. The scholars receive a monthly financial assistance of 300 € and can benefit from additional support-offers organized by the donors.