BOUBA
He arrived in Italy five years ago, risking his life on a boat, but he feels neither like a hero nor like a victim: he just feels like an extremely lucky guy with a huge desire to make it!
He already had earned a degree in Bamako, but once he arrived here, he never felt entitled to anything, seizing all the opportunities that life gradually offered him.
Two years ago, he earned a master's degree, but he continues to study because he feels he is just at the beginning of his new journey and knows that he still has a lot to accomplish.
During the first meeting he told me, "I have so much to tell, but I don't know how to tell it, I don't understand social media very well and I'm embarrassed to put myself in front of a camera"
Since that day only three months have passed, but today, Bouba has already managed to turn his self-awareness into a story.
He talks about the things he sees and the things he experiences, without adding anything other than the simple truth.
His is a simple story, where joy and drama coexist without emphasis or rhetoric, because as Bouba tells us, he comes from a country where nothing is taken for granted and even the certainty of survival must be conquered every day.
In a more aware and humane society, even just his small yet also great story would be enough to crumble all the chauvinist and racist talk that runs through Italy these days, which mocks the British but remains completely indifferent to the inhumane policies on the Mediterranean, where people continue to die.
JOAO
Joao is as musical as his name and when he speaks you could listen to him for hours, especially if he uses his own language: the Portuguese of Mozambique.
He is a character with traits still undefined, almost ageless, he could have been on this Earth forever.
Joao exudes Africa from every pore of his body.
It is expressed by singing and acting, which unfortunately we can only record and broadcast during our meetings, because he has not yet managed to do this when he is on his own. But we encourage him, we do not give up because we are longing for his voice, because it is a door that leads us into his world which we want to explore and know.
AHMED
In the HF team, Ahmed started strong from the beginning. Already used to telling himself, he is comfortable in front of his phone screen, his face and the way of framing work well, as well as the pitch of his voice; and he knows how to manage pauses and rhythm.
And he has a lot to tell, but this goes for the whole group.
His narrative centered on his own story is undoubtedly coherent; I must say, however, that sometimes I would like to see his personality shine through in a less direct way, I would say maybe transversal, while narrating his encounter with some "external" facts and episodes. Because I know his ability to observe and grasp nuances, so I think it would be very effective. And also because sometimes he might seem presumptuous, which I know he is not, and I develop a misplaced instinct to protect him.
But this is just my own perspective. He does well to continue in the way that he feels comfortable. In one meeting I realized that I had pushed him to go in a direction more mine than his, and he rightly defended his choice.
Sometimes it is not easy for us to accompany and suggest without crossing a line, without invading or forcing the hand.
