Script: In Their Own Words: Female Migrants Navigating the Unknown
Created by Kawatr El Azouki, Habiba Elgabri, Mia Kováč, Melek Arif, Mascha Ronja Wagner 2024
What is Migration?
Migration refers to the movement of people from one to another place, often across international borders for reasons like economic opportunities, social factors, political upset, or environmental changes.
Jimmy, Senegalese migrant in Morocco:
Everyone has projects, even though we’re here to work, we aim to achieve something bigger, for the future.
Hello. My name is Jimmy. I’m Senegalese. I came to Morocco in 2020 and since then I’m here. Well, I came here to work because in 2018, I lost my mother. That’s why I came here. I’m the eldest of her children. So, I came to work and help my siblings. When I first came here, I worked for a Moroccan family. They were very nice, truly. I spent 3 years with them. Then I went back to Senegal and came back here. And I decided to work independently, just for myself. Because it’s a bit difficult to compete with Moroccans. But still, you work with them, you live well with them. But you don’t have the freedom that you would like to have. It’s not difficult to live here. But sometimes the circumstances make it harder. For example, at the Souk, there are quite a few difficulties. Like sometimes when you go there to work, the cops will come sometimes. Those are the problems we have there. But other than that, noting at all. Al Hamdulilah. There is good and there is bad. That’s why. But nobody is the same. Everyday we discover new things about others.
Sarah, Syrian migrant in Germany:
During this, all like ups and downs and challenges where I was always feeling unaccepted and not welcome to be here. But for me, I wasn’t even planning to be here. So it was really the worst feeling. So I come originally from Syria, from the north, we’re famous with our distinguished accent and our love for food and family. As I started my university in 2000, ten, 2011. The war had already started in Syria. Of course, I continued with my studies on the side, I had some small voluntary work, which eventually led me to have this great connection with my country. Then I started working with international organizations, going here and there, attending conferences. So, I started to feel a bit risky. I received some direct threats. But I was somehow protected. Then the last one was when I was getting my visa. I had a conference in a European country, and I had to go to Lebanon to get this visa. And it was super weird. When I got the visa, I had a letter and a stamp next to the visa that I should go back to the embassy of this country in my country. And we didn’t have the embassy, and then on my way back, I received this phone call that I have some questions to answer in some sort of military branch that I know if you go there, you’re never going out. So for me, when I heard this thing, I was immediately no, I’m not coming back anymore. A lot of my friends at university had traveled to Europe. Most of them ended up in Germany, Netherlands, etc. So, I just opened Facebook and I remember that one of my best friends actually lives in Germany. So, I texted them, hey, I’m here in Europe and just starting my new journey. I’m coming to Germany. I was like, really nice. Cool. Where are you planning to come? So, he asked me to come. I told him that I will arrive by bus at this time. And he would arrive and just pick me up from the bus. It was funny because he was late a bit, because it was a working day, and it was winter, and it was dark. Immediately and I didn’t have internet. So, I get off flixbus and I was like, standing in the street. What if he bailed on me? You know, I didn’t know what to do. I started to panic, and I didn’t have any internet. So, until he came, I was so tressed. Is this happening? Am I really starting something or is this just fake? But at the beginning with the refugee process, it was the worst because as a miracle, the bureaucracy was super-fast for my decision and Immediately got deportation and rejection for my case because I had this doubling case. I had a visa, and I was truthful with everything. And I remember a lot of people were just telling me in the camp like you’re stupid. Why did you give them everything? You shouldn’t give your passport. I was like, no, I’m not lying. Like I’m not doing any single work. Because this is something really bigger than us. It’s the law. I’m not going to mess with anything. So, I’m just going to hand everything I have, tell everything with all the proofs that I have. If they decide with this, then I’m okay with it. Until I realized the traumatizing process of the deportation. When I heard about that, that they would just come at you in the middle of the night, handcuff you, and just take you. For me, let’s say the positive part of the journey was when I started having more impactful actions. So, I had a place where I can be working and giving back to society. I felt more appreciated, and I had my purpose. I had the full-time job, so I felt more independent. I am not waiting for anyone to help me or give me anything. So now I’m going to focus on that. Now I moved to a big city. As you’ve mentioned, Berlin is a really big city. You need to prove yourself. So, my plan is just to get more connections, get a better job, and just blend in till I find my place. For me, I think for the people in general is not to generalize a word about someone, like someone comes from this place or a label. Everything like this is a refugee, this is a migrant, this is an international person. We are just human beings. We all have maybe the same experience. Like you can have a traumatic experience as a refugee and as a person. Who’s living in the same country as you were born in. So, for me, just not to generalize everything, just take the chance to look at someone and discover them their whole person, their whole experience as a whole, not just label them with one word.
Jimmy came to Morocco in 2020 in search of a job opportunity to provide for her family. She had worked as a housekeeper then started selling jewelry at the local souk in Agadir city. Because it is difficult to get authorization to sell, she and other Senegalese migrants must flee the area when the police conduct random checkups. While Jimmy feels welcomed in Morocco, her big ambitions of a bright future are yet to materialize. Jimmy lives with a Senegalese roommate in a rented house. They both share the struggle of being unauthorized jewelry vendors and help each other to navigate the daily problems encountered at the souk.
Shortly after filming, Sarah moved into her own apartment in Berlin. Her right to stay, granted due to the unique circumstances of the Covid-19 border closures, was a rare exception in a complex system. Yet her journey mirrors that of so many other women.
These women embody strength, resilience, and the pursuit of better future. They represent countless female migrants who, despite immense challenges, are rebuilding their lives and contributing to their new communities.
Their voices speak of courage and determination as they navigate the unknown.