I am Hashim, I am 31 years old and from Pakistan. But today I also feel a bit Roman. I came to Rome in 2017 with a suitcase full of dreams and fears. Arriving in a new country is like climbing a mountain: learning an unfamiliar language, getting papers, finding work, building a new life. Leaving my family in Pakistan was painful, I felt alone, helpless. It felt like an impossible challenge. At first I stayed in a shelter, then a friend told me about Casa Scalabrini 634. Never did I imagine that I would find two new families here. The first was my three friends and roommates, Farhan, Shahid and Shukrullah. Between games of foosball, driving lessons and evenings spent together, we have become inseparable. To me, they are not just friends, they are brothers. To this day, we still support and encourage each other as we try to fulfill our desires. The second family is that of Casa Scalabrini 634: it is the volunteers, the workers and all the extraordinary people who, with their gestures and smiles, made me feel welcomed, listened to. They made me feel at home.

I spent six months here and they were among the most important of my life. At Scalabrini House 634 I laid the foundation for my future. I dreamed of a family, someone to share my life with. Today that dream has come true: a year ago I got married and two months ago I became a dad. Every time I look at my daughter, I think about the future I want for her: a future full of opportunities, but most of all full of fellow travelers like the ones I had. My life has changed completely, but Scalabrini House remains a staple. It is not just a place, but it is a community of people who animate an area and extend a hand to those who, like me, need to be welcomed and want to realize their dreams. Thanks to them, I found not only a roof, but warmth, affection and care. Now I keep dreaming: I would like to have my mother, who is still in Pakistan, here with me. I am doing all the paperwork to obtain Italian citizenship and I hope one day to welcome her in Italy, also to reciprocate the welcome I myself received. For Casa Scalabrini 634, my dream is that it will always remain a meeting and a beacon for those who need and want to start over. I always say it: we started from here.