Life after reunion: three families’ journeys, months on

At Safe Passage International, we often share the powerful moments when children are finally reunited with the people they love: the long wait for a decision, the rush of booking flights, and the unforgettable hugs and tears at the airport… But their journeys do not end there. That’s why we continue providing social support long after families have arrived, helping them take their first steps into life together again.

Today, we’re sharing the story of three children reunited with their loved ones this year — and how they’re doing a few months on.

Burian and Valeria

Burian* (12) and Valeria* (16) were reunited with their mum in August. When the war began, their mum, in the UK on a temporary visa, was unable to return to them.

Our legal team fought for months to secure their visas through a long, complex process. Even after we won their case in court, delays meant more agonising months apart. But a few months ago, they finally walked through the airport doors into their mum’s arms.

Today, Burian loves school and has already made friends with other Ukrainian boys. Valeria continues her education through online classes with her former school while taking English lessons. Most importantly, every evening, they get to come home to their mum.

Burian* (12) and Valeria* (16) leaving the airport with their mum

Adan

Adan* reunited with his uncle in June this year, after months of danger and uncertainty.

At 16, he fled Somalia after his family was targeted for refusing to work with Al Shabab, a violent armed group. His journey to safety was long and traumatic, and he ended up stranded in Cyprus for years, alone. But Adan never stopped fighting to join his uncle, and never did we.

He has now started college and is settling into life with his uncle and cousins. He’s making new friends, reconnecting with old ones from Cyprus, and, for the first time in years, living the life every teenager deserves: safe, supported, and free to plan for the future.

Adan reuniting with his family in London

Leila and Noon

Leila* and Noon* were reunited with their dad in May this year.

They were just one and three years old when their father last saw them, after Taliban persecution forced him to flee to protect his family and his own life. He hoped his daughters would follow soon, but visa refusals kept the family separated for years. That long wait finally ended a few months ago.

They’ve since settled brilliantly into their new lives. They’re now registered in school, learning English, making friends, and exploring their new neighbourhood. Best of all, they are safe and growing up with their dad by their side.

*All names have been changed to protect our client’s identity

Leila* and Noon* at the airport, after reuniting with their dad