The Hussaini Changiz left the Reception Centre for Afghan Refugees - Francisco e Jacinta Marto, in Fatima, to live in a house in Castelo da Maia, near the train line and with chickens and ducks as their new neighbours.
Aged between 55 and 5 years, the family forced to flee Kabul, arrived on 6 January in Maia through the Association of Owners of the Urbanization of Vila D'Este, which, as a host institution, transported two more families from that country to houses in Freixieiro, in Matosinhos, and Oliveira do Douro, in Vila Nova de Gaia.
In all, there were 15 Afghan refugees moved into houses in Greater Porto.
António Moreira, responsible of that association, explained to Lusa that the Afghan refugee family "will have housing and subsistence for a year, guaranteed by a fund of the platform of support to refugees and Jesuits".
"We hope that at the end of this year they will have social and professional autonomy so that they can become independent," he said, adding that the family will "attend the course 'Portuguese for all'" in order to ensure the skills to be able to join the labour market and obtain autonomy within the defined deadline.
In the van that travelled from Fatima packed with the bags they managed to bring when they fled Kabul, was "a basket of food", a kind of welcome to the Hussaini Changiz on their arrival in Maia.
Shahreza, 16 years old, was the spokesman in the conversation in English with Lusa, he started by telling that they have been in Portugal "for two months", after the escape from Afghanistan had dictated the passage through "Georgia before heading to Lisbon", in a route where, he pointed out, they had the "support of a North American".
"Since we arrived in Portugal we have met several people who have been good to us and helped us, and I thank them," continued the only male child in the family, who has clearly defined his objectives.
In this order, Shahreza said that "he wants to play football at FC Porto, continue his studies and go to university to become a good person for Portugal".
And if the "biggest challenge" was having left his country, the young man hopes one day to return, but already considers Portugal his "second home", he said after having fulfilled one more bureaucratic aspect at the host association, the printing of passports for later registration at the Finance and Social Security level, of what they hope can be the restart of a new life.
"I am very happy, after four months we have our house and this is where I want to start my life again", he said, minutes after arriving at his new accommodation and being surprised by the number of chickens and ducks in the backyard of the house.
To ease the transition, they were welcomed by Zaher's family, also refugees from Syria, who have been staying there for a month.
"I've been here for a month. It is good to have here a new family, friends", he started by saying to Lusa while he was helping to unload the van that had just arrived.
About the difficulties that await them, he minimized them, preferring to praise the help that has been received: "we are learning the language [Portuguese] and everyone helps me whenever I have to go somewhere and I will help them in the same way".