First, the four young people, assisted by two educators from the association, Solène Certain and Marjorie Pinta, put their strong, sincere and moving words to music. Then they also performed them in front of Arnaud Bequet's camera, and surrounded by their dancing friends, Moussa, Pomykal, Sainey, Abdoulaye and Zeynab.
What do these young people have to say? Here are some excerpts from the song:
“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.
I saw people dying of thirst on the way, because they could no longer walk, they were exhausted, but others continued. Each for himself, God for all. I have many negative memories of the desert and I want to erase them completely from my mind.
As I tell you about the desert, tears fall: I lost my brother, the one with whom I crossed the desert on foot, and who was the one who helped me the most. Sometimes in the desert you are attacked by rebels. I have seen women raped, men mistreated, children crying...
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.
I arrived in France, a goal achieved, happiness, a city so beautiful that you feel like you are in a parallel world, a dream that comes true. But then a new obstacle appears. Near the goal but so far away. How do I live in France? How will I eat? Where will I sleep? We turn to God for some consolation because, in any case, we cannot live worse than on the crossing, on the brink of death. You know that inside you, you didn't come out unscathed.
To all the people who have gone through these difficulties: do not give up. This is our story. ”
"I admire these young ‘lions’ who have confided their traumas and their unwavering determination in front of the camera" says Sonia Maria, member of the Board of Directors of Garelli 95. "I make their words my own: pain is temporary, pride eternal. And 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 has given itself the mission of protecting, supporting and integrating 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 of FRB Salesians, and is named after Bartholomew Garelli, the young orphan whom a Turin priest, John Bosco, met on 8 December 1841 and who was the first young man to be welcomed into what would become the Salesian Family of Don Bosco.
The video "C 'est mon histoire" is available in French, with English subtitles, on the YouTube channel of "Don Bosco Aujourd'hui".
Source : Don Bosco Aujourd'hui
