Despite the fact that at that time we were working from home, that day I went to the office to meet my new colleague and to finalize the procedure for his hiring. We completed together all the paperwork and then had a coffee. My colleague’s name is Araz Kotani and he is a Kurd from Iraq.

While drinking that coffee, I told him that the following week my father-in-law was going to undergo surgery. He immediately asked me if we needed a blood donation. The truth is that the hospital had asked us for two tubes, and the truth is that we had not dealt yet with that issue. So I asked him if he was really willing to donate his blood and he said yes without hesitation. So I thanked him and almost without knowing each other he donated his blood to my family.

It’s been 8 months since the operation. Since then, several people have approached Araz asking for blood donations. He always says yes, and he always mobilizes friends and acquaintances until he gets the desired amount. I want to emphasize that these anonymous donations are always from refugees or asylum seekers. They are generous people who contribute without compensation to the common good.

We rarely read stories of this kind in the general press. These daily actions, essential for the public health, and with such a potential to break negative stereotypes, are never reflected in media.

Unfortunately there are people who put obstacles even to these donations. But that is another story that I will explain it in separate post.