“I was thinking that all my life will be better than how I live in Africa” says

Konte (pseud, 25) recalling his hopes when leaving Senegal for Germany in 2014. He fled, he says, after receiving multiple death threats when he stood up to rebels. His journey to Europe was “hard.” He had to cross the Sahara where “I see some my friends who get sick and they die.” In Europe, life has not been as he had hoped. He wants to be able to work, but for seven years has been denied permission. “My time all waste,” he says. In the meantime he’s lost family members and friends. “I’m alone.” Konte’s loneliness is coupled with worries about not having the right papers to live and work in Germany: “I cannot sleep comfortable because I am always scared… any second they can come and catch me.” His faith comforts him: “I feel so bad but I leave everything in the hands of God.” He still dreams “to pay the tax for this country, to be free, to help other people… like me to go out with this situation.” Full Story

“I was thinking that all my life will be better than how I live in Africa” says

Konte (pseud, 25) recalling his hopes when leaving Senegal for Germany in 2014. He fled, he says, after receiving multiple death threats when he stood up to rebels. His journey to Europe was “hard.” He had to cross the Sahara where “I see some my friends who get sick and they die.” In Europe, life has not been as he had hoped. He wants to be able to work, but for seven years has been denied permission. “My time all waste,” he says. In the meantime he’s lost family members and friends. “I’m alone.” Konte’s loneliness is coupled with worries about not having the right papers to live and work in Germany: “I cannot sleep comfortable because I am always scared… any second they can come and catch me.” His faith comforts him: “I feel so bad but I leave everything in the hands of God.” He still dreams “to pay the tax for this country, to be free, to help other people… like me to go out with this situation.” Full Story

“I was thinking that all my life will be better than how I live in Africa” says

Konte (pseud, 25) recalling his hopes when leaving Senegal for Germany in 2014. He fled, he says, after receiving multiple death threats when he stood up to rebels. His journey to Europe was “hard.” He had to cross the Sahara where “I see some my friends who get sick and they die.” In Europe, life has not been as he had hoped. He wants to be able to work, but for seven years has been denied permission. “My time all waste,” he says. In the meantime he’s lost family members and friends. “I’m alone.” Konte’s loneliness is coupled with worries about not having the right papers to live and work in Germany: “I cannot sleep comfortable because I am always scared… any second they can come and catch me.” His faith comforts him: “I feel so bad but I leave everything in the hands of God.” He still dreams “to pay the tax for this country, to be free, to help other people… like me to go out with this situation.” Full Story