At just 15 years old, Alex left Ghana and made his way to Libya, where he endured the harsh conditions of refugee camps to save money for the perilous boat journey to Italy. At 17, he finally reached Italian shores but was unjustly accused of being one of the traffickers, as he had been forced to distribute water on the boat. He was subjected to a summary trial with a court-appointed lawyer who never even spoke to him. Confused and unaware of what was happening, Alex was sentenced to four years in a juvenile prison in Bari.
The Prison Superintendent, recognizing Alex’s goodness, called for a cultural mediator from Rome, who was finally able to communicate with him, telling him: “No, Alex, you have to get out of here because you are in prison!” This stark realization hits him, making him fully grasp the reality of his situation and understand that the dreams that brought him to Italy have been shattered.
Only then did Alex begin to understand his situation. Until that moment, he had viewed prison as a safe haven—where he could eat, study, and watch television—unaware that his dreams had been shattered.
Struggling emotionally, Alex received mental health support, and the Prison Superintendent arranged for his transfer to the “16 August” family community at the Salesian Redentore Institute in Bari. Initially wary of everyone, Alex gradually realized that the people around him genuinely wanted to help. Through good behavior, he earned a sentence reduction and began reintegrating into society.
During his time in prison, Alex had started learning boat restoration at the Bari port. The Salesians helped him complete this training while also supporting his education, enabling him to earn a degree in accounting. They further assisted him in securing employment, first within the Salesian institute and later at a major construction company collaborating with the Salesians. Offered a permanent job both outside and within the institute, Alex chose to stay, becoming the caretaker and maintenance manager of the Salesian structure.
Over time, Alex successfully completed his mental health support program, and thanks to the efforts of the prison director, his conviction was annulled. Additionally, an administrative error in his documentation was corrected, allowing him the freedom to travel outside of Italy.
Alex has endured the hardships of forced migration, labor exploitation in Libya, judicial and bureaucratic injustices, and the loneliness of being a foreigner wrongly accused. Yet today, he has a clean record, a stable job, and a strong support network. Most importantly, he can now consider reuniting with his family.
“I hope that this story helps people understand the importance of seeing beyond appearances and recognizing the dreams and potential of the young people who arrive in our communities,” concludes Fr. Pasquale Martino of the Salesian Redentore Institute in Bari.
For more information, visit the “Salesiani per il Sociale” (Salesians for the Society) website: https://www.salesianiperilsociale.it
