VOICES From Migrations | Mohamed Bance's story

"VOICES From Migrations" is a project co-funded by the European Union exploring untold migration stories. Mohamed Bance is from the Ivory Coast, and he moved to Italy in 2008. This is his story:

Mohamed Bance

“My name is Mohamed. I was born in the Ivory Coast, but I moved to Burkina Faso when I was little. Once I was an adult and couldn’t find work to support myself and my family, I chose to leave the country to build a better future. I arrived in Italy in October 2008, after crossing Niger and Libya and then taking a boat that would lead me to Europe. I have been living in Italy ever since. Now I am in Caserta, in the Campania Region. I am 37 years old. 

My first destination in Italy was Lampedusa, then I was placed in Florence, where I took language classes to learn Italian. I left in 2009, still with no documents, but with some prospects for work. Ever since, I have been employed mostly in seasonal jobs, primarily in agriculture or plant care.

I wasn’t in Rosarno in 2010, when the clashes between the local population and the migrants started, but I was close by. I first learned about the revolts when I heard that the police had killed two African men. The treatment of migrant people, even before that, hadn’t been good. I remember, before 2010, migrant people couldn’t be outside on their own at night without risking a violent assault. So I joined the protests, like many people did, to defend our right to exist peacefully.

Many things have changed since then, and now the situation is much better. I feel comfortable walking down the street and have no fear for my life. As long as I can work, I am calm, I am happy. I am still working to find a more steady income, something more permanent, but I am okay. As of right now, I am working on my license to be a truck driver. I hope things continue to look up in the future.

I have a wife and three children. I talk to them every day via video call. The kids are going to school, and I send them money from here. I want a better future for them.”

Interview by: Rawan Al-Aqel, Bjant Çami, Renato Pasquale, and Alberto Cricrì

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.