Within this perspective, the story of Apollo Pach takes on its full meaning. Not as a conventional “success story,” but to look at what unfolds between the visible stages of a journey.
Apollo is part of the IN LOCO Project team – participated by Glocal Factory – where he contributes as a Refugee Researcher. Selected for his academic background and experience across different cultural and geographical contexts, he graduated from the University of Verona, rebuilding his academic path after arriving through humanitarian corridors.
We could stop at his curriculum: a linear, reassuring narrative, perfectly aligned with the expectations of a performance-driven society. But that is not where the real story lies. What matters is what happens in between. And how it happens.
As a first question, we’d like to ask you to introduce yourself.
My name is Apollo Pach. I come from South Sudan and I am currently a PhD student at the University of Verona, specialising in Development Economics with a focus on poverty and inequality. My long-term goal is to contribute as a policy advocate, working to design and promote evidence-based solutions that can meaningfully reduce extreme poverty in my country.
What does “belonging” mean to you?
To me, belonging is the feeling of being genuinely welcomed and recognised as part of a community where you are respected, supported, and treated with dignity and equality, not as an outsider but as someone whose presence matters.
At what moment did you stop feeling like “someone who arrived” and start feeling simply like yourself again?
It took me about four months to regain my self-confidence and begin feeling like myself again. The main challenges were language barriers and social isolation. In the beginning, my interactions were limited to two academic tutors, and I often felt quite alone. Gradually, I connected with classmates, many of whom were also international students and we built a small support network. Over time, this circle expanded to include Italian friends as well. Those first two months were particularly difficult, but the support from the UNICORE project coordinator played a crucial role in helping me adjust and move forward.
Do you ever feel caught between two places, two expectations, or two versions of yourself?
Yes, I often felt pulled between multiple expectations. On one hand, I had to adapt to a new culture and language; on the other, I needed to meet the academic demands of my scholarship. Balancing language classes, my core studies, social life, and part-time work while also supporting my family back home was demanding. It required constant adjustment and prioritisation, and at times it felt overwhelming.
Who were the people who made a difference along the way? And what did they do, sometimes without even realizing it?
Many people contributed to my journey in meaningful ways. The UNICORE focal persons, Professors Isolde Quadranti and Emanuela Gamberoni, were instrumental in my transition. They ensured that all project partners fulfilled their commitments, which allowed me to access consistent academic and financial support. My course coordinator, Professor Claudio Zoli, provided guidance that helped me stay on track and complete my studies on time. Local partners, particularly Caritas, played a vital role by covering my health insurance and medical needs, which gave me peace of mind. Finally, the tutors were incredibly supportive in navigating administrative and bureaucratic processes, something that can be overwhelming in a new system. Their help made everyday challenges much more manageable.
You were recruited into the EU project IN LOCO for your skills. What do you think you brought to the project? And what do you think the project brought to you?
I believe I brought a unique perspective shaped by my lived experience as a refugee. This allowed me to conduct interviews with a deeper level of empathy and trust, which enriched the quality of the data collected. In addition, my technical skills in data collection, analysis, and dissemination contributed to producing meaningful and well-structured findings. In return, the project expanded my professional and academic network across Europe. It strengthened my ability to collaborate in diverse teams, exchange ideas, and engage in interdisciplinary work. It also improved my communication and presentation skills, which are essential for both research and policy engagement.
How has this journey changed you — and what parts of yourself have remained untouched?
This journey has shaped me in many ways. Conducting interviews and analysing the experiences of newcomers gave me a broader understanding of the challenges they face, beyond my own experience. It deepened my perspective as both a researcher and someone personally connected to these issues. What remains unchanged, however, is my concern about the gap between research and policy. I still strongly feel that policymakers need to rely more on evidence-based findings rather than decisions driven by sentiment or short-term considerations.
If someone reads your story only as a “successful integration example,” what would they be missing?
They would miss the collective effort behind this journey. My story is not just about individual success, it reflects the support, coordination, and commitment of many people and institutions who made it possible. Without that network of support, the outcome would have been very different. Recognising this shared contribution is essential to understanding what real integration looks like.