Saher, Ishraq, Aziz and Jasmine are courageous children who have crossed seas, borders, mountains and rivers to escape from war, poverty and persecution and in the search for a future. On Tuesday their stories were told at the Italian parliament to mark the national day of remembrance for victims of migration, coinciding with the anniversary of the shipwreck off Lampedusa on October 3, 2013, in which 368 migrants lost their lives. Politicians, representatives of organisations working with migrants and members of the cultural community attended the event organised by UNICEF Italia and the association Museo Migrante MUMI, which also saw the opening of "BAMBINI - Storie di viaggio e di speranza" running until October 13. The exhibition includes a video installation and a display of items belonging to migrants involved in the Lampedusa shipwreck.
The children's stories of courage
Ishraq, meaning 'dawn', is an Algerian girl aged 12. She told her own story during the event. "The last memory I have of my home is of my father singing," she said. One day "I fled with my mother and my sister because we had received death threats". In Algeria "violence is perpetrated against women every day and children are kidnapped," Ishraq explained. There "I left my friends, the teachers, everything". "I brought my father's music with me to Italy, he is a famous singer in Algeria, I carry his voice in my heart but I miss him a lot," she added. "I thank the government for the hospitality." There followed the story of Saher, a 9-year-old girl from Syria, of her brother's death in an air raid and her journey towards Germany. "I don't know where we are going, but they tell me not to stop," she said. "On the other side of the river is Europe."
Participants also heard the story of Aziz from Afghanistan, who was blocked for months in the Balkans (
https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/3490/picture-of-the-day-60), and of 13-year-old Jasmine from Syria who lost her home, family, all that she had in the war. She now lives in Lebanon and wants to become a psychologist in order to help child victims of war like herself.
Stories of tragedies
Louane, an Eritrean woman aged 31, read a letter addressed to her uncle who died in the Lampedusa shipwreck, and the island's former mayor, Giusi Nicolini, read a letter from a mother to her 5-year-old son who also died in the tragedy. His red toy car, to which he was attached, is on display in the exhibition inaugurated during the event. These are the stories of "courageous, heroic children who have grown up quickly," Lawyer House Speaker Laura Boldrini said during the event. "It is not numbers but people who emigrate, and they have their life experiences," she added.
