“…I felt like a human again, not a number.”

“…I felt like a human again, not a number.”

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Today Sietar NL had the privilege of hearing Yusuf’s story, as he and Hamdy Ellakany‬‏ guided us through the canals of Amsterdam, but from a different #perspective. Rederij Lampedusa operates tours guided by refugees who have found their way to the Netherlands - with crew from Syria, Somalia, Eritrea, Egypt and the Netherlands.

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It physically hurts my heart knowing that Yusuf’s story is one of millions. When we read ‘700 migrants dead’ - every single one of those people had a life as full and varied as yours or mine. And people who love them. So as much as it hurts, I feel it’s vital to not get ‘hard’ and #desensitised.

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For me this is the work - it shouldn’t be easy! So next time you are in Amsterdam - consider booking a tour and opening yourself up to hearing the real stories from those who risk their lives escaping unthinkable situations, who often arrive to ‘safety’ and are totally dehumanised.

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Huge thanks to Sandra Schindler for organising this for us. 👏🏽 

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