Born in Germany in the mid-70s, Simon’s childhood memories of his biological father were few but vivid. His father, during his studies in Germany, met his mother and became part of her life for a short time. After they separated, he visited Simon during his first year of life. Then he left — returning to Egypt when Simon was just a toddler. What followed were a few birthday postcards and notes during his early school years. Then, silence.
Simon’s mother rarely spoke of the man who gave him half of his identity and so, life moved on. Yet, in the background, there was always this quiet yearning, a faint echo of belonging unanswered.
It took Simon over 40 years to find the courage to seek the truth. At the age of 49, he finally reached out to ISS Germany Familie International Frankfurt E.V. that supports individuals in Germany searching for their roots. With their support — both psychosocial and practical — he began the delicate process of uncovering the story of his origins.
Digging through the archives of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office, Simon found out his father’s full name and date of birth. That small piece of information — so long hidden — sparked a deeply personal search. For a while, the trail led somewhere. His father had gone on to teach and work in Egypt but then, the trail went cold.
Now, all he had to hold onto were three old photographs of him with his father that were part of the file found at Germany’s Youth Welfare Office.
However, with help from ISS and their partner organisation in Egypt, a breakthrough came — and it was bittersweet. Simon’s father had passed away in 1990. He had been married for 20 years and had children of his own. This revelation came from a niece in Egypt, a woman who received the news of Simon with grace and openness.
First contact was made. Words were exchanged. Curiosity and kindness bridged the miles between them. The niece, along with her siblings, welcomed the opportunity to know more about Simon and to share stories of the father he never truly got to know.
The team at Familie International Frankfurt, drawing on 20 years of experience, understands just how layered and emotional this kind of search can be. It requires time, care, empathy — and a deep understanding that sometimes, the outcome may not bring the kind of closure one expects but can still offer peace.
For Simon, this journey was never just about finding a person. It was about healing.
Simon’s story is a reminder that the search for identity is not bound by age or time. That, even after decades, there is space to reconnect with one’s roots.
Simon, living in Germany, reunited with his family in Egypt
