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One year after arriving in Paisley, Kassem Ayash and his young family say they no longer feel like refugees – they have found a home.

With his eight-month-old son Abdulraham sleeping happily on his wife Hiba’s shoulder, he talks of his family’s first year in Paisley after fleeing war-torn Syria.

Three-year-old Hajar, wearing a pretty tartan dress, is running around and laughing, the picture of happiness.

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It is hard to imagine that they fled the most dangerous region on earth just one year ago.

Kassem, who uses a wheelchair, said: “We feel like this is our home now. We are looking toward the future.”

The family left their home in Daraa in Syria in July 2012, firstly to Lebanon and then to the Za’taari refugee camp in Jordan.

After more than two years, in Jordan they received the call they had been longed for – they were being relocated to the UK.

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Hiba was five months pregnant when just over a year ago the family touched down at Glasgow Airport, following a whirlwind few days.

Speaking through an interpreter at Paisley Town Hall, Kassem, 28, and his wife Hiba, 25, exclusively told the Express about their first year in Scotland.

“A year and five days ago we arrived. It was a big, big joy for us. Such a big moment after all the suffering,” Kassem said.

“To be here, to know that we were safe, and can look forward to our life was so important.

“The first days were very smooth. We never had a cot for Hajar, so the people from the council went and got one and blankets to keep us warm.”

Both parents agree that their son, Abdulraham, who was born at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, will grow up Scottish.

“It was a difficult journey as I was pregnant, but the care I have had since coming here has been so good. The delivery went very smoothly and I am very thankful,” said Hiba.

“Our son is definitely Scottish.”

Kassem and Hiba were initially told that they would be heading for Newcastle and were given a lecture on what to expect when they arrived.

But things quickly changed and they found themselves on a plane to Glasgow and bound for Paisley.

Kassem told us: “We didn’t know anything about Glasgow, we knew nothing. We just knew we were going to the UK.”

The terror and suffering the family left behind is simply unimaginable.

When civil war erupted in Syria in 2011 everything changed for them.

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“All the buildings were destroyed, everything was completely destroyed. There was no food, no access to medication,” Kassem said.

“The situation was terrible.

“We saw people killed, women kidnapped, bodies around us. There was so much suffering.

“We were hiding as we knew they would kill us if they found us. All the children would be given sleeping tablets to keep them calm through the bombing. It was terrible.

“We didn’t support the Free Army or the government, we would be killed if we went back.”

However, although they were delighted to arrive to the safety of the UK, the trip was tinged with sadness.

Kassem’s mother and father and seven siblings are all still in Jordan and he is not sure he will ever see them again.

“They are all still there, our extended families are all so far away. We miss them very much. There are laws which mean we are not allowed to go to Jordan at the moment,” he explained.

Hiba hopes that one day the war will end and they will be able to see their loved ones again.

Speaking with tears in his eyes, Kassem said the welcome he and his family received in Paisley was beyond anything he could have hoped for.

“Someone from the council said to me, ‘If I could change the weather for you, I would’. That sentence was enough, that said it all to me,” he explained.

“The welcome from everyone has been amazing. Everyone has been so kind and understanding. We have seen no discrimination from anyone, just love and understanding.

“The people of Paisley have been so kind to us.”

And now they have their eyes on the future and hope to make a good life in Scotland.

“I want to go to university and learn to become a teacher. I could work part-time and look after my children as well. That’s what I hope for,” she said.

“I want to keep learning English as well."

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Her husband, who worked in a mobile phone shop in Syria, hopes for the same and his English is already improving.

“I don’t want to be on benefits forever. I want to work, but at the moment that is difficult. I’m learning English, it’s hard but I will keep trying,” he said.

One thing the couple disagree about though, is the weather.

Kassem said “I like the weather. Back in Syria it was too sunny, I hated the summer. This is perfect for me.”

“I like sitting in front of the fire and keeping warm”

“No, no. I miss the sun.” laughed Hiba. “The kids can’t get out to play as much.”

Kassem says the staff at Renfrewshire Council’s resettlement team, which now supports 19 refugee families who are all based within Paisley town centre, have been incredibly supportive throughout the difficult period.

“We just want to thank Ann, Elaine, Donna, Mary and Jacqueline from the team who have helped us so much,” he added.

“And we want to thank the people of Paisley who have been so kind to us.”

The woman heading up the team to support the 19 refugee families in Renfrewshire says they have transitioned well into Scottish life.

The first group of refugees from Syria arrived on November 17 last year, with further smaller intakes happening sporadically.

Ann Carruthers, refugee resettlement manager for Renfrewshire Council, says her team try to facilitate the families as they settle into life in Paisley.

She explained: “We help them with everything to help them get settled in. We help to get them registered with GPs, organise schooling for the children, nurseries for the pre-school children, and get them signed up for benefits.

“But it’s also about getting them doing these things for themselves – showing them the bus routes they have to take and letting them do things for themselves.”

The biggest challenge that many of the refugees face is the language barrier, but Ann says they are working hard to put that right.

“They are all having lessons and they have recognised now that if they want to get into employment then they need to work on their English,” she went on.

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There have been some cultural difference to overcome too.

Ann went on: “There has been little things, like driving. Some of the men have had problems with the zig zag lines. In general though, there hasn’t been anything too major.”