Salesian students share their migrant journey through lyrics

(MissionNewswire) Migrant students from the Salesian Garelli 95 Association, located in Pontoise in the French department of Val-d’Oise, have put their harrowing journey to music in a video called, “This is My Story.” The music video was created for “Festclip”, the Salesian festival of short films hosted by the Salesian Province of France and Southern Belgium.

Students Souleymane, Adama, Baraka and Mabinty, assisted by two educators from the association, put their words to music, with the lyrics showcasing their journey from their homeland. On their way, they saw people killed and other acts of violence. They also lost friends.

The young men had very little. A song lyric says, “I don’t want to remember the word desert. Walking for miles with just a bottle of water, two packs of cookies and a bottle of soda, it’s hard to talk about. If you have not had this experience, you will not believe my story, yet it is a true story.”

They go on to sing, “Be strong, don’t give up, it’s a lifelong struggle, this is my story. The Mediterranean, Mauritania, Spain, since the age of 15 we have crossed difficult roads to survive and reach our destination. The cold, the hunger, the fatigue, the fear, the anguish, the bad surprises, the waves. Since I can remember, my mother tells me get up, my son, life is a struggle, no one will come to save you, get up and be your own hero.”

In their song, the young men tell of arriving in France only to face new obstacles of where to live and how fo find food and jobs to survive. Their message is ultimately one of hope though and encouragement for youth that they too can survive even the most difficult circumstances.

Sonia Maria, member of Garelli 95 Association’s board of directors, said, “I admire these young men who have confided their traumas and their unwavering determination in front of the camera. I make their words my own: pain is temporary, pride eternal. I am proud to be the administrator of an association that allows young people to express themselves and gives them the necessary tools to achieve their goals. Congratulations to the team.”

The Garelli 95 Association protects, supports and integrates unaccompanied minors who have been entrusted to it by the Social Services of the Department of Val-d’Oise. The association is part of the Don Bosco Social Action Network in France and Belgium. It is named after Bartholomew Garelli, the young orphan who John Bosco met on Dec. 8, 1841, and who was the first young man to be welcomed into what would become the Salesian Family of Don Bosco.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – France – “This is my story”: the young people from Garelli 95 tell what they have experienced

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