Questions About Butterfly: From Refugee to Olympian, My Story of Rescue, Hope and Triumph

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Aidan Wong The initial intention is to go to Hanover to meet up and stay with Sara's friend. Additionally, as Yusra was younger than 18 at the time of the journe…moreThe initial intention is to go to Hanover to meet up and stay with Sara's friend. Additionally, as Yusra was younger than 18 at the time of the journey, going to Germany would have allowed her to bring over her parents and younger sister legally, through a scheme.

I think it's also important to accept the difference in how well refugees were accepted in each of the countries. While they could have stayed in other countries, Germany was known to have better support in place for refugees, whereas they would have potentially been made to sleep rough in the other countries. Yusra also discusses a difference in treatments and attitudes in each of the countries, for example, being actively applauded as they entered Austria and Germany, versus being refused water in Greece.

So to answer, they could have stayed in Istanbul, but they wanted to have the best opportunity after leaving Syria and this meant going to a country with better support and facilities in place to help them on arrival. It also gave Yusra (and Sara) the best opportunity to be able to continue swimming.(less)

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Is this appropriate for teens? I am thinking in terms of violence.

6 It's perfect for teens. To open their eyes, to see new perspectives, to learn how to rise from despair. I am buying this book for my 15-year-old. …moreIt's perfect for teens. To open their eyes, to see new perspectives, to learn how to rise from despair. I am buying this book for my 15-year-old. (less)

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