Sarra, Algeria

«Life on the boat taught me that it is possible to build peace through ordinary and simple gestures: sharing activities, dancing, listening to each other, cooking dishes that we sometimes taste for the first time in our lives, and simply being present when the other needs it. We managed to communicate through feelings and kindness, even though we did not speak the same language. These, however modest, experiences helped me understand that being united does not mean sharing the same convictions, but being open to one another.

Thanks to my experience with MED 25, I adapted more easily when I moved to Lomé. Here, I can see how many people struggle to meet their basic needs, how poverty weighs on everyday life, and how people can be discouraged and tested, even in a supposed peaceful place. Today I realize that peace does not only mean the absence of war. Peace is also the absence of hunger, poverty, and despair. The lesson the boat taught me is that peace can be built little by little, through awareness, empathy, and acceptance of our differences. We do not need to be of the same race, speak the same language, or share the same traditions or religion. Humanity alone is enough.»

Sarra