We yearned for freedom
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Rodrigo
(Colombia)
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When they attempted to take my life, suddenly it was like a shock; as if you had been asleep and when you awake you realise that your life has been split in two; that which was before, and that which was afterwards. Everything was finished. Over! I woke up in a hospital and the only thing I thought was 'I have to leave here running'. I couldn't go back to my house, my wife, my family - nothing! So I went to a hotel. I was there for three days without leaving my room. Finally I decided I had to go. My face looked like a disaster; I had to put makeup on to get a photo for a passport. A friend of my family gave me money so that my wife and I could leave immediately. I went and bought the tickets and we left. |
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Kitende
(Kenya)
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In 1992, after my dad lost the election things became a lot tougher; we lost a lot of money, our relatives were constantly harassed, most of them lost their jobs, some of them lost their lives. I couldn't get anywhere in my work and at the same time I was receiving threats outside of work. I knew I wasn't safe. It was then that I decided to leave and go somewhere to study. I chose Australia. I was thinking that I would be gone for maybe three or four years until I had finished studying and it was safe for me to return home. I never came out here thinking I would have to stay. In 1997 there was an election in my country and I thought 'This is when there will be some change'. Things have changed, but for the worse! |
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Aaron (China) |
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In 1995, I had finally found a job and was touring Australia as part of my work. My superiors reported back to China that I was too liberal in my mind, by their standards, and they ordered me to surrender my passport. I knew the implications - it's like a detention order. I went back with them to an Asian airport. At the last minute I decided. I walked three steps towards China, and I suddenly asked myself, 'Should I go back there?' I had a black hole in Australia, I didn't know what would happen to me there, but I had a long tunnel ahead of me in China, I couldn't see the end of it. I walked through the airport and bought a ticket to Australia at the counter. |
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Hometown | Chaos
| The Escape | The
Loss | Seeking Protection
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