ROMEO’s teams are made up of colorful people who come together from different walks of life. In this interview, we talk to Manaf from Fraud Prevention as he shares a story of resilience.
From working in Abu Dhabi to facing imprisonment in his home country of Syria, Manaf found his way to Europe and secured a job at ROMEO, having undertaken an incredible journey. We’re proud to have him in our team. Get to know Manaf and be inspired by his story. 💙
Hey, Manaf! At the moment, you are living in France. Tell us a bit about what that’s like.
Well, I’ve been living in France for the past nine years now. I spend around 70% of my time working remotely for ROMEO from here and the rest of my time is spent working from the Amsterdam office. I arrived to France as an asylum seeker, and the first years were very tough. But I worked hard, learned French, got my degree in web development, and things started to look up from there.
Currently living in Nantes, France, Manaf spends most of his time working remotely for ROMEO, with frequent visits to the Amsterdam and Berlin offices
That’s quite an accomplishment. Can you tell us about your background?
Sure thing. I’m originally from Syria, but I spent some time in Abu Dhabi working in IT before heading back to Syria during the revolution. I was arrested during the protests and spent two and a half years in a prison where I endured daily torture. It was pure desperation. Eventually, I was set free. It was completely random. My family didn’t know if I was alive or not at this point. I know people who have disappeared for many years and we don’t know anything about them. We’re not sure that we will ever see them again. When I was set free, I reunited with my family before making my way to France.
Spending two and a half years in prison in Syria, Manaf was not sure when and if he would make it out. A lot of the people who were arrested during the revolution completely disappeared, and their families know nothing about their whereabouts to this day
Tell us a bit about your job at ROMEO?
As a Junior Developer in Fraud Prevention, my team and I make sure that our users have a safe and more fun experience on the platform—without any spammers or scammers. I work closely with my colleagues Michalis and Christian, and they are both fantastic to work with. Michalis is a brilliant teacher, and Christian is always welcoming and attentive whenever I need help.
Left to right: Salman, Marko, Manaf, Michalis, Sven, and Christian at the office in Berlin
Do you have any cool or interesting stories from your job?
One time, during my first on-call shift, the whole platform went down. As the only person on duty, I felt guilty! But, luckily, everything worked out in the end.
How long have you been in the team, and how are you liking everything?
I’ve been with the team for seven months already! One of the things I appreciate the most about the ROMEO team is how we all get together during lunchtime and bring our unique characters and personalities to the table. It’s great to be part of such a diverse and inclusive community. When I first visited the Amsterdam office, I was blown away by the stunning view from the balcony, and I remember spending 30 minutes just admiring the cityscape. Being at the Amsterdam office makes me incredibly happy, and I’m excited to continue working with such a wonderful team.
Amsterdam cityscape during sunset. The ROMEO office overlooks a spectacular panoramic view of the city as it is located right next to Central Station
What do you see in your future?
Honestly, I’m loving everything about ROMEO right now, and I’m excited to continue growing my skills here. I want to become an expert in my field and stay with the company long-term, like some of my colleagues who have been here for over a decade.
Before we go, do you have any funny stories you’d like to share?
Well, as is with a lot of people who come from the Middle East, I was a bit surprised to find out that most Europeans don’t use bidets. It took me a while to adjust, I was shocked and confused for about a year—but you can say I eventually got the hang of it.
That’s a culture shock for sure. 😂 Thank you Manaf for sharing your story with us! 💞