reporter: nazlije aligi has fled serbia.ld when the war began in her home country and 17 when her mother died. christian: you came to switzerland because your mother died. reporter: they've lost their families or left them behind. ehsanulah's application for asylum was rejected. he's deeply in debt to the traffickers who got him here, and his family needs financial support. he hasn't been attending school because he has to earn money, even if it's not legal. christian: ehsanulah, you haven't been to school for about three weeks. i know you're working somewhere. as a person, i can understand that. as a teacher, i can't accept it. reporter: christian zingg is a calming influence in these teenagers' fractured world. he doesn't awaken false hopes, but he works tirelessly to strengthen their belief in themselves and the future. christian: manchester united have won the champions league a few times. but in basel yesterday, basel won. you're like the fc basel. of course you're at a disadvantage, but believe in your opportunities an