The brothers escaped the war - reunited at the dentist's clinic

In 2013, Ahmad Altawashi decided to leave Syria and his hometown of Hamah. He had just graduated in dentistry - but getting a job was no alternative. Instead, the state wanted him to move into the military.

- They wanted me to join the war, and fight and shoot my friends. That's when I chose to leave the country, says Ahmad.

The year before, Big Brother Mahmoud had made the same choice. As an educated English teacher, he went through several different countries, before finally landing in Karlskrona and reuniting with his brother in the summer of 2014.

- We had not seen each other in two years. You do not know the lack of family when we are together. Before that, they were lonely and depressed, but now we can support each other when we miss the rest of the family, says Mahmoud.

Ahmad fills in:

- It is very difficult to be alone in Sweden, so it is great that we have each other. Our greatest strength is that we trust each other fully.

After quickly learning Swedish at SFI, Ahmad managed to get an internship at the private dental clinic Family Family Dentist, at the top of Kungsmarken's A-house. At the same time, he continued his education and received a Swedish dentist degree.

Mahmoud also got a job at the clinic, as a receptionist. And when the clinic's owner retired last spring, the brothers had to take over the entire business.

- Mahmoud was already familiar with the administrative tasks, and knows the dental systems with audits and medical records. But we have also received a lot of support from the previous owner, says Ahmad.

They have both been granted permanent residence permits, and are now waiting to be approved as Swedish citizens. And to people who have been in similar situations, they have advice.

- Swedish is the first and most important step to take. If you can't control it, it will be difficult, says Ahmad.

- Learning the language and integrating with others is my best advice. For example, I was a member of the Red Cross integration group, when you got to talk to people in reality and learn the new language, says Mahmoud.