A Photographic Peek into the Life of a Migrant Worker
Sudan’s 22-year war between the north and south ended in 2005, after 1.5 million people died. The bloody civil war is one of Africa’s longest standing conflicts that has caused nearly four million to be internally displaced while another 400,000 were forced to flee the country.
I spent a lot of time in the migrant community in Lebanon. Not only as a journalist but as a friend, a student and child. These amazing men and women were wise elders who find the most creative ways to make the most out of their situation. Not much work, if any, is done to protect migrant workers but one thing is for sure, they have ways of supporting themselves.
Today I would like to introduce you to Angelina, her children and her shop. Enjoy!
Angelina, a Southern Sudanese refugee, has been in Lebanon for over ten years. Her father had political ties with opposition members and was considered a rebel by the Sudanese government so her whole family was targeted and prevented from leaving the country. Angelina stands with her son Faguar Wal at the Souk el Tayeb in downtown Beirut. She and other domestic workers were part of a project initiated by Taste Culture to help women sell foods from their country.
Different braiding styles offered in Angelina’s shop.
Hair extensions used to braid the women’s hair.
Tigist is one of many Ethiopian migrant domestic workers living in Angelina’s are of Ras al Nabaa that will visit the shop in preparation for the upcoming festival. Ethiopians represent the largest African community in Lebanon with a population of over 20,000.
During the day to make ends meet Angelina freelances as domestic worker. In the evening she operates a hair-braiding salon for the local migrant workers community.
“I mainly work as a freelancer, which means I get sporadic work as domestic help for 5000 LL an hour but this is not enough to care for my family and the work is not always regular,” says Sylvia, a Southern Sudanese refugee living in Lebanon. “Also it’s very hard for us to move around because if we are stopped by authorities, we go to jail.”
This is how Tigist’s hair will look once Angelina completes the process. Unfortunately Tigist has decided after it’s done she will also invest in a wig.
This week Angelina has to cater to a lot of customers for the upcoming Ethiopian festival.
Faguar Wal is Angelina’s son he recently was featured in a film screening for youth. His film was about his mom’s life in Lebanon. Although Sudanese come as refugees the over 5,000 currently residing in Lebanon ultimately end up finding work as freelance domestic workers.
After her husband fled to Syria and then eventually Lebanon, Angelina took her two kids and found a way to escape by bribing the Sudanese police. Finally making their way to Lebanon via Syria by paying traffickers smuggling families or individuals trying to escape political persecution in Sudan.
“Our life was like living in a box. Everything was under the control of the government, even our property,” says Angelina. “I wanted my children to live a free life.”
Angelina says that she used to get a lot of problems from Lebanese in the neighborhood but since she has been able to maintain her shop she says many don’t bother her because she stands up for herself.
