Meet Mahdi from Iran, who has been living in Bulgaria for 16 years

Mehdi was born in 1981 in Tehran, where he studied architecture and worked as a designer in various construction companies.

The topic of migrants is widely discussed, but often misinterpreted. In an attempt to change that, we will share a few stories about third-country nationals with the right to work in our country, who, contrary to popular belief, are successfully integrated into the Bulgarian labor market and contribute to the development of the country’s economy.

Our series is part of the MIraGE project, on which WCIF is working with partners from several European countries. The project aims to ease the access and integration of third-country nationals who seek employment in the host countries of the European Union.

Today we introduce to you Mehdi from Iran.

Mehdi was born in 1981 in Tehran, where he studied architecture and worked as a designer in various construction companies. At the age of 23, he was responsible for the construction of high buildings, and his profession thaught him to be responsible and work hard everyday. However, it was not his professional path that prompted him to leave Iran, but his political views, which did not coincide with those of the Tehran regime. After advice from an acquaintance, Mehdi chose Bulgaria as his final destination and today he does not regret this choice.

The beginning is difficult due to the language barrier, cultural differences and the need for means of subsistence, but soon another Iranian who lives in Bulgaria, offers him a job as a hairdresser. Mahdi agreed and very soon he finds similarities between architecture and his new field. He completed a hairdressing course, while studying Bulgarian, learned about Bulgarian culture and made all the necessary efforts to integrate into the host society.

16 years later, Mahdi already has a family in Bulgaria. He has accepted Christianity as his religion and continues to develop his profession successfully. He is filled with optimism and gratitude to the people who supported him and accepted him as one of them.