Ayoub* had always dreamed of providing a better life for himself and his family. Growing up in Morocco, he saw how hard his parents worked to make ends meet. But he knew that if he left home, he might never return and leave his family behind. However, a few years ago, he finally mustered up the courage to take a leap of faith and embark on a journey to find a better job and help his parents financially.

"I could no longer continue living like that. Not only was I unable to help my parents, but I was also unable to help myself," Ayoub explains.

With limited options for regular migration pathways, Ayoub made the decision to attempt crossing borders irregularly, a choice that carried significant risks. He first tried his luck in Türkiye but struggled to find employment. Eventually, he made his way to Bosnia and Herzegovina, from where he unsuccessfully tried to reach the EU border several times. 

However, fate had a different plan for Ayoub when he met Dijana, a kind and caring woman. It was as if their meeting was destined. Just a few days prior, Ayoub's phone had been damaged, leaving him unable to contact his mother. By a stroke of luck, Dijana happened to pass by and Ayoub asked her for help finding a repair shop. Not only did she assist him with his phone troubles, but she also offered to call his mother on his behalf to ease her worries.

"I offered to take his mother's phone number and call her on his behalf to assure her that he was safe, and everything was under control. This way, she wouldn't have to worry," Dijana shares how she became involved in assisting Ayoub. "I felt sorry for him being in such a difficult situation, so I gave him a phone that could be helpful to him. I even tried to find him housing because he had left the temporary reception center in search of job opportunities," Dijana explains her efforts to help him. She also took on the daunting task of helping him retrieve his lost passport, knowing it would not be easy. As they spent more time together, they discovered a strong connection between them.

And, then they fall in love. 

Ayoub eventually decided to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, finding everything he had been searching for - a loving partner and a place to call home. With Dijana's support and guidance, he began to explore ways to stay in the country, find a decent job, and make a living with his future wife. Ayoub also started learning the local language, and although he and Dijana typically communicate in English and French, she admits that picking up Arabic was not a challenge for her, thanks to her frequent travels and work experiences in diverse regions. However, she did face some difficulty with the Moroccan Arabic dialect.

But, after all, love transcends all languages.

A year ago, Ayoub and Dijana got married, but Ayoub's legal status remained uncertain. Despite this, Dijana tirelessly searched for institutions and individuals who could assist them in legalizing his status and NGO Daily Integration Center INTERGreat was a great help: "Despite the obstacles we faced, we never gave up and were determined to overcome challenges in order to secure his legal status," Dijana says with a smile, explaining how life works in mysterious ways and how the IOM Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR)** program helped in the process: “The next step for him was to leave our country, where he entered irregularly, and return to his home country before pursuing the option of family reunification. We worked with our lawyer to make this happen and contacted the AVRR team for voluntary return assistance”. 

Thanks to their help, Ayoub was able to safely return home in Morroco a month ago, while Dijana and their advocate continue to work on the procedures for family reunification which is the next step. Dijana acknowledges that there is still a long road ahead, with many procedures and days of separation in front of them, but their love story serves as a reminder that love knows no borders or legal status and can guide us towards a better future: 

"I'm confident that my husband will have his rights and legal status by the next time we see each other, Inshallah," Dijana says with a smile. 

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Regular migration pathways and family reunification are essential for a humane and orderly migration system, reducing the risks of exploitation and promoting global stability. By facilitating safe, regulated migration, these pathways allow migrants to contribute economically and socially to their destination countries while upholding their fundamental right to family life. By facilitating the reunification of families, states can promote the mental and emotional health of migrants, reduce vulnerabilities, and build resilient societies. Expanding these pathways aligns with international commitments like the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and contributes to achieving sustainable development goals, benefiting migrants, their families, and society.

* Names have been altered to safeguard the anonymity of individuals.
**Assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR) program is funded by the European Union - EU DG Neighbourhood & Enlargement (NEAR) IPA III, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.

Written by M. Balić