Page 61 - MY Book - My Voice

The two following stories have been told, by Yosief and Atiq, during the workshops at Hvalstad autum 2014. Both participants joined the weekly workshops for two monts. Their work have been collected and made into books after the workshop.Yosiefs journey, from Eritrea to NorwayOne day, when Yosief was 16 years old, some soldiers came to his school to enroll the students to the National military service. To avoid conscription, Yosief and some of his friends managed to run away in the last minute. Not to risk being caught, they decided to cross the border to neighboring country Sudan.The journey started by bus, and then the boys continued on foot for ve days. When they reached Khartoum in Sudan, Yosief called his mother, and told her what had happened and were he was. His mother got upset and cried. Yosief stayed in Sudan for one year before he decided to move on towards Europe. The journey headed north, through the desert via Chad to Libya.It took 18 days to cross the Sahara Desert on the back of a small truck, together with almost 40 other people. They had no protection from the harsh desert sand. During daytime, it was hot, and at night it was freezing cold. There was lack of food and drinking water. Some of the passengers fell o the truck and were left behind, while the truck drove on. Others were abused by the violent tra ckers.Finally, Yosief arrived in Libya. On the coast, he entered a small boat to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Italy. The boat was crowded with people, and some of those staying beneath the deck died in lack of air and water. Some people were thrown overboard. The sea was black.After three or four days, the boat arrived at Sicilia in Italy. From Palermo Yosief continued his journey by train, via Rome, Milan, Paris and Hamburg. The last part, Yosief traveled by bus, through Sweden and Norway to Oslo.59