Meet Maiama, Mariama + Alagie

Meet Alagie.

18 years old and from Gambia.

Alagie did not want his picture taken.

To reach Lampedusa he crossed six countries: The Gambia, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and the most dangerous of all, Libya.

His journey took four months. He “helped himself,” he said, by leaving Gambia. When he reached Agadez, Niger it was hot and there was no food or water.

Alagie crossed the Sahara desert in one week with 25 people; they had 6 gallons of water to share. He reached Libya and stayed there for three months. Two weeks of that time were in prison. Everyday he was beaten. There was no food or water. He would rummage through trash bins for food.

When he finally left, he stayed at the coastal camp for two weeks, sleeping on a mat.

He crossed the Mediterranean Sea in a rubber dinghy at 2:00 a.m. with 140 people, 12 of whom were women. They were at sea for six hours with no compass or cell phone to find a sense of direction.

The engine broke and fell into the sea.

After an unknown period of time at sea, he was rescued by the Guardia Costiera, the Italian Coast Guard.

His sisters, Maiama (17) and Mariama (18) arrived in the late evening of November 28, barely out-ran a severe thunderstorm.

We met both of the girls less than 15 hours after they arrived and were processed in Lampedusa; for what we determine to be shell-shock from the experience, they had almost nothing to say about their own specific journey. They remained mostly mute in the face of questions.

The three siblings speak Mandinka, and English, as well; but Alagie has had more education than his sisters and so was able to communicate on their behalf. He often translated our questions to the girls.

All are eager to learn both English and Italian, and get an education. Alagie loves football. His favorite team is Chelsea F.C. The girls repeated again and again with shy smiles that they wanted to go to school.

Maiama, Mariama & Alagie are amazing human beings.