Sudanese teenager recounts journey from Libya to Italy

A Sudanese teenager who migrated to Italy shared her story at a local celebration of Agrigento law enforcement. Dasavi, a 17-year-old girl, left Sudan for Europe in 2015. After getting stuck in Libya, she was able to make it to Italy, where she plans to study medicine after finishing high school.

Dasavi is studying at the Leonardo Scientific High School (Liceo Scientifico Leonardo) in Agrigento on the Italian island of Sicily. The teenager shared her story at a local event celebrating the 117th anniversary of the Agrigento police force, describing what undocumented migration is actually like for those who experience it.

Met by 'kind police' after pushbacks

"It all began in 2015 when my four brothers and I, along with our mother, left and crossed the desert, which took several weeks," Dasavi said. "We arrived in Libya, where we stayed for several months.

We tried to cross the sea three times. We were sent back due to bad weather and because there were police and we couldn't get past them. The third time, the border police punctured the dinghy to prevent us from leaving the shore.

The fourth time we managed to arrive. An NGO ship rescued us and took us to the Trapani port. We met kind police that always smiled at us and never let us feel alone," she said.

Like 'seeing a second family'

"In [the Italian city] Trapani they had us start school.

It was a very welcoming community and they didn't want to move us. We later went from Trapani to Agrigento, where we live with our mother and where there are many good people that welcomed us with affection and made us feel at home," the teenage girl told the police, her voice filling with emotion. "It is like seeing a second family.

You showed us that for us -- and for others -- you have always been there," she added amid tears and applause.

"I would like to become a doctor to help others like you helped us and to show that everyone, through their profession, can help to make a better world," Dasavi said amid tears that grew into sobs.

Police commissioner Emanuele Ricifari, who works extensively with migrants arriving upon the shores of Sicily, hugged the girl.