Part 1/2
« My father was a Prince, the son of the King of Bali Nyonga, a village in the Northwestern Province of Cameroon. He had 5 wives, and 16 children. We grew up in a big compound, his house in the middle while those of his wives and children were around his. We had a very good close relationship. He taught us the importance of unity and instilled in us the love to look after each other. He was a mentor for us and also for others in the village because he paid the school fees of many other children.
We had a big farm, cultivating coffee, beans, palm tree, cola, and other food crops including live stocks. The children and the mothers constituted the greatest workforce. We were involved in bush clearing, tilling, planting, harvesting, drying the coffee beans, etc. We knew it was our responsibility so we did it without complaint. We grew up in the spirit of always helping our parents. At university, I studied geology and became a petroleum engineer. Then, I worked with the Cameroon government for about 10 years. I was living in the capital city Yaoundé with my wife and children. Things were going on well for me. But then, in 2016, the war began.
It started just with a peaceful protest by the English Speaking minority. Cameroon is a bilingual country divided in two regions, the French speaking majority and the English speaking minority. The French speaking majority controlled the government and was bent on assimilating us by destroying our culture, our educational and judicial system. But when we took to the streets peacefully demanding for change and recognition, they sent their military against us. They maimed and killed us. One of my brothers was severely shot just beside me. After that, the young men went to the bushes and took up arms in revolt. And until today, it’s grown up to a full blown civil war.
In 2018, I came to Geneva for a conference at the UN, as part of my duty for the Ministry of Mines. By that time, the war was really at its apex, everybody could be a suspect. When I came back, I was picked up by the police at the airport. They put me in a room and started questioning me, asking if I had travelled to arrange for arms for the separatist. I didn’t have anything to do with the crisis, but they blindfolded me and took me away in their van. I was kept a prisoner for 11 months incommunicado. Maybe you can’t imagine how horrible prisons in Africa… It’s terrible. We were treated very inhumanely.
Many of us were kept in a very small dark room in an underground cell. The room had no toilet or bathroom with only one small window. Not everyone could lie down at the same time to sleep. Some were standing while others rested, and after some time we exchanged positions. There was also a torture room and they would take me there regularly. They’d tie my hand in my back and question me about people involved in the rebellion. They’d pour water continuously on my face so it was very difficult for me to breathe. And they hit me underneath my feet so hard with a baton that I couldn’t walk after for a long time.
My brother… it was really tough. It was a survival of the fittest. Some people would collapse and just die like this in our presence. When you’re in such situation you start thinking a lot, you have anger and it affects your health so badly. So I just decided : okay, I’m not going to think of anything or wonder when I’ll be released. I decided not to have any hope and accept whatever happens. I needed to preserve my energy to stay alive. Because anything could happen at any moment. At one point, maybe they realized that I was innocent, and after 11 months they released me.
After my release, I quickly called my wife. She was speechless and shocked when she heard my voice. Everyone thought I was dead. All she could do was cry in disbelieve. She told me there was still an arrest warrant against me and the police was looking for me. That’s how it works over there : a policeman can take a decision without informing his superiors. So there was nothing to prove I’d been detained for 11 months. She insisted I should run away from Cameroon. I still took the risk to go see them but when I got there, there was a gun battle between separatists and the military. Everyone had ran away into the bushes. So I fled to Nigeria. »
(Quartier de l’Etang, Vernier)
Part 2/2
« In Nigeria, I found a smuggler who assisted me to travel to Geneva. I had come here many times before, but this time was different. I went to the police and asked for protection because I was scared for my life. And I was given protection. But at first, things were very difficult. I was alone and traumatized, I couldn’t sleep at all and I was having hell of nightmares. My time in the prison, all the torturing was replaying in my brain. Back there, I had conditioned my mind not to waste energy or be hard on myself. While here, I knew that there was no more danger but I started feeling the pain of that prison and the anger over what happened.
Fortunately, the Swiss authorities, the doctors and social workers, they gave me all their support. The psychiatrist found out I had a very strong will power, so she didn’t prescribe any drug but give me a lot exercises that really helped me. When I felt depressed, I would just get up and push the wall with my hands, it helped me to push the thoughts away. It was working like magic ! The worst part, however, was that I had totally lost contact with my family. Everyone had ran off into the bush for safety due to the constant attacks. And I was thinking about them all the time.
During that period, I developed a census program with friends to locate those who are missing, those who are dead and those who are alive. And to access the amount of properties that were destroyed so we could keep track of what was happening. People would go to each villages, input the information into the database. About 8 to 9 months after my arrival in Geneva, I was scanning through and suddenly I realized : oh, this is the name of my wife! And that’s how I found her again in a small village, hundreds of miles away from our locality. Wow, what an inspiration it was! I applied for family reunion and last year she arrived in Geneva with my two daughters.
I met a lot of wonderful and supportive people here. I also met people who went through similar experiences and some even worse than mine. Hearing their story gave me encouragement and relief. I have studied French to a level, did some internships and voluntary work. I’ve also been admitted for a Master’s degree course in Environmental Science at the university of Geneva. But for now I still depend on social assistance, and you cannot be comfortable with something you didn’t work for. This country is doing a lot to assist people like us, and we shouldn’t just fold our arms. So I want to finish my degree program and get a good job.
The part that makes me fulfilled is that my children will have a secure future. For them, it’s a perfect home. But I wouldn’t say I feel at home here. Although some may feel that I’m comfortable but my head is not comfortable. I still have a lot of family members scattered all over Cameroon, constantly moving around looking for safety. Several have been killed and each day I learn of a new problem. And insecurity is a big issue. Two months ago, one of my step sister was murdered in her house by a neighbour because she owed him 100 francs. You see the nature of how things are back there in my country. I cannot just sit here comfortably and think that this place is my home.
So I didn’t come here to stay forever. Look how beautiful this place is, how beautiful the houses are ! At this level of comfort, I think I don’t have as much creativity. I might just feel : oh everything is good, I can just relax. But what about my own country ? A lot of people back there look for a way to establish in Europe. But my goal was always to stay and assist foreign investors to create employment in my country. That was really my dream, to help build my country. I pray that someday this problem would end, and that I can go back home and make this dream come true. »
Note : V. and I met by chance as I was walking through the Quartier de l’Etang (Vernier) looking for a story. We started a conversation and then met again later to finish our exchange. This time, he arrived dressed with a traditional regalia and told me : « I want you to include my outfit in my story, because it’s really captivating. Anybody who reads the story, just by seeing my traditional Regalia, they will know : Oh this guy is from the Northwest region of Cameroon ! »
(Quartier de l’Etang, Vernier)
Part 1/2
« My father was a Prince, the son of the King of Bali Nyonga, a village in the Northwestern Province of Cameroon. He had 5 wives, and 16 children. We grew up in a big compound, his house in the middle while those of his wives and children were around his. We had a very good close relationship. He taught us the importance of unity and instilled in us the love to look after each other. He was a mentor for us and also for others in the village because he paid the school fees of many other children.
We had a big farm, cultivating coffee, beans, palm tree, cola, and other food crops including live stocks. The children and the mothers constituted the greatest workforce. We were involved in bush clearing, tilling, planting, harvesting, drying the coffee beans, etc. We knew it was our responsibility so we did it without complaint. We grew up in the spirit of always helping our parents. At university, I studied geology and became a petroleum engineer. Then, I worked with the Cameroon government for about 10 years. I was living in the capital city Yaoundé with my wife and children. Things were going on well for me. But then, in 2016, the war began.
It started just with a peaceful protest by the English Speaking minority. Cameroon is a bilingual country divided in two regions, the French speaking majority and the English speaking minority. The French speaking majority controlled the government and was bent on assimilating us by destroying our culture, our educational and judicial system. But when we took to the streets peacefully demanding for change and recognition, they sent their military against us. They maimed and killed us. One of my brothers was severely shot just beside me. After that, the young men went to the bushes and took up arms in revolt. And until today, it’s grown up to a full blown civil war.
In 2018, I came to Geneva for a conference at the UN, as part of my duty for the Ministry of Mines. By that time, the war was really at its apex, everybody could be a suspect. When I came back, I was picked up by the police at the airport. They put me in a room and started questioning me, asking if I had travelled to arrange for arms for the separatist. I didn’t have anything to do with the crisis, but they blindfolded me and took me away in their van. I was kept a prisoner for 11 months incommunicado. Maybe you can’t imagine how horrible prisons in Africa… It’s terrible. We were treated very inhumanely.
Many of us were kept in a very small dark room in an underground cell. The room had no toilet or bathroom with only one small window. Not everyone could lie down at the same time to sleep. Some were standing while others rested, and after some time we exchanged positions. There was also a torture room and they would take me there regularly. They’d tie my hand in my back and question me about people involved in the rebellion. They’d pour water continuously on my face so it was very difficult for me to breathe. And they hit me underneath my feet so hard with a baton that I couldn’t walk after for a long time.
My brother… it was really tough. It was a survival of the fittest. Some people would collapse and just die like this in our presence. When you’re in such situation you start thinking a lot, you have anger and it affects your health so badly. So I just decided : okay, I’m not going to think of anything or wonder when I’ll be released. I decided not to have any hope and accept whatever happens. I needed to preserve my energy to stay alive. Because anything could happen at any moment. At one point, maybe they realized that I was innocent, and after 11 months they released me.
After my release, I quickly called my wife. She was speechless and shocked when she heard my voice. Everyone thought I was dead. All she could do was cry in disbelieve. She told me there was still an arrest warrant against me and the police was looking for me. That’s how it works over there : a policeman can take a decision without informing his superiors. So there was nothing to prove I’d been detained for 11 months. She insisted I should run away from Cameroon. I still took the risk to go see them but when I got there, there was a gun battle between separatists and the military. Everyone had ran away into the bushes. So I fled to Nigeria. »
(Quartier de l’Etang, Vernier)
Part 2/2
« In Nigeria, I found a smuggler who assisted me to travel to Geneva. I had come here many times before, but this time was different. I went to the police and asked for protection because I was scared for my life. And I was given protection. But at first, things were very difficult. I was alone and traumatized, I couldn’t sleep at all and I was having hell of nightmares. My time in the prison, all the torturing was replaying in my brain. Back there, I had conditioned my mind not to waste energy or be hard on myself. While here, I knew that there was no more danger but I started feeling the pain of that prison and the anger over what happened.
Fortunately, the Swiss authorities, the doctors and social workers, they gave me all their support. The psychiatrist found out I had a very strong will power, so she didn’t prescribe any drug but give me a lot exercises that really helped me. When I felt depressed, I would just get up and push the wall with my hands, it helped me to push the thoughts away. It was working like magic ! The worst part, however, was that I had totally lost contact with my family. Everyone had ran off into the bush for safety due to the constant attacks. And I was thinking about them all the time.
During that period, I developed a census program with friends to locate those who are missing, those who are dead and those who are alive. And to access the amount of properties that were destroyed so we could keep track of what was happening. People would go to each villages, input the information into the database. About 8 to 9 months after my arrival in Geneva, I was scanning through and suddenly I realized : oh, this is the name of my wife! And that’s how I found her again in a small village, hundreds of miles away from our locality. Wow, what an inspiration it was! I applied for family reunion and last year she arrived in Geneva with my two daughters.
I met a lot of wonderful and supportive people here. I also met people who went through similar experiences and some even worse than mine. Hearing their story gave me encouragement and relief. I have studied French to a level, did some internships and voluntary work. I’ve also been admitted for a Master’s degree course in Environmental Science at the university of Geneva. But for now I still depend on social assistance, and you cannot be comfortable with something you didn’t work for. This country is doing a lot to assist people like us, and we shouldn’t just fold our arms. So I want to finish my degree program and get a good job.
The part that makes me fulfilled is that my children will have a secure future. For them, it’s a perfect home. But I wouldn’t say I feel at home here. Although some may feel that I’m comfortable but my head is not comfortable. I still have a lot of family members scattered all over Cameroon, constantly moving around looking for safety. Several have been killed and each day I learn of a new problem. And insecurity is a big issue. Two months ago, one of my step sister was murdered in her house by a neighbour because she owed him 100 francs. You see the nature of how things are back there in my country. I cannot just sit here comfortably and think that this place is my home.
So I didn’t come here to stay forever. Look how beautiful this place is, how beautiful the houses are ! At this level of comfort, I think I don’t have as much creativity. I might just feel : oh everything is good, I can just relax. But what about my own country ? A lot of people back there look for a way to establish in Europe. But my goal was always to stay and assist foreign investors to create employment in my country. That was really my dream, to help build my country. I pray that someday this problem would end, and that I can go back home and make this dream come true. »
Note : V. and I met by chance as I was walking through the Quartier de l’Etang (Vernier) looking for a story. We started a conversation and then met again later to finish our exchange. This time, he arrived dressed with a traditional regalia and told me : « I want you to include my outfit in my story, because it’s really captivating. Anybody who reads the story, just by seeing my traditional Regalia, they will know : Oh this guy is from the Northwest region of Cameroon ! »
(Quartier de l’Etang, Vernier)
Part 1/2
« My father was a Prince, the son of the King of Bali Nyonga, a village in the Northwestern Province of Cameroon. He had 5 wives, and 16 children. We grew up in a big compound, his house in the middle while those of his wives and children were around his. We had a very good close relationship. He taught us the importance of unity and instilled in us the love to look after each other. He was a mentor for us and also for others in the village because he paid the school fees of many other children.
We had a big farm, cultivating coffee, beans, palm tree, cola, and other food crops including live stocks. The children and the mothers constituted the greatest workforce. We were involved in bush clearing, tilling, planting, harvesting, drying the coffee beans, etc. We knew it was our responsibility so we did it without complaint. We grew up in the spirit of always helping our parents. At university, I studied geology and became a petroleum engineer. Then, I worked with the Cameroon government for about 10 years. I was living in the capital city Yaoundé with my wife and children. Things were going on well for me. But then, in 2016, the war began.
It started just with a peaceful protest by the English Speaking minority. Cameroon is a bilingual country divided in two regions, the French speaking majority and the English speaking minority. The French speaking majority controlled the government and was bent on assimilating us by destroying our culture, our educational and judicial system. But when we took to the streets peacefully demanding for change and recognition, they sent their military against us. They maimed and killed us. One of my brothers was severely shot just beside me. After that, the young men went to the bushes and took up arms in revolt. And until today, it’s grown up to a full blown civil war.
In 2018, I came to Geneva for a conference at the UN, as part of my duty for the Ministry of Mines. By that time, the war was really at its apex, everybody could be a suspect. When I came back, I was picked up by the police at the airport. They put me in a room and started questioning me, asking if I had travelled to arrange for arms for the separatist. I didn’t have anything to do with the crisis, but they blindfolded me and took me away in their van. I was kept a prisoner for 11 months incommunicado. Maybe you can’t imagine how horrible prisons in Africa… It’s terrible. We were treated very inhumanely.
Many of us were kept in a very small dark room in an underground cell. The room had no toilet or bathroom with only one small window. Not everyone could lie down at the same time to sleep. Some were standing while others rested, and after some time we exchanged positions. There was also a torture room and they would take me there regularly. They’d tie my hand in my back and question me about people involved in the rebellion. They’d pour water continuously on my face so it was very difficult for me to breathe. And they hit me underneath my feet so hard with a baton that I couldn’t walk after for a long time.
My brother… it was really tough. It was a survival of the fittest. Some people would collapse and just die like this in our presence. When you’re in such situation you start thinking a lot, you have anger and it affects your health so badly. So I just decided : okay, I’m not going to think of anything or wonder when I’ll be released. I decided not to have any hope and accept whatever happens. I needed to preserve my energy to stay alive. Because anything could happen at any moment. At one point, maybe they realized that I was innocent, and after 11 months they released me.
After my release, I quickly called my wife. She was speechless and shocked when she heard my voice. Everyone thought I was dead. All she could do was cry in disbelieve. She told me there was still an arrest warrant against me and the police was looking for me. That’s how it works over there : a policeman can take a decision without informing his superiors. So there was nothing to prove I’d been detained for 11 months. She insisted I should run away from Cameroon. I still took the risk to go see them but when I got there, there was a gun battle between separatists and the military. Everyone had ran away into the bushes. So I fled to Nigeria. »
(Quartier de l’Etang, Vernier)
Part 2/2
« In Nigeria, I found a smuggler who assisted me to travel to Geneva. I had come here many times before, but this time was different. I went to the police and asked for protection because I was scared for my life. And I was given protection. But at first, things were very difficult. I was alone and traumatized, I couldn’t sleep at all and I was having hell of nightmares. My time in the prison, all the torturing was replaying in my brain. Back there, I had conditioned my mind not to waste energy or be hard on myself. While here, I knew that there was no more danger but I started feeling the pain of that prison and the anger over what happened.
Fortunately, the Swiss authorities, the doctors and social workers, they gave me all their support. The psychiatrist found out I had a very strong will power, so she didn’t prescribe any drug but give me a lot exercises that really helped me. When I felt depressed, I would just get up and push the wall with my hands, it helped me to push the thoughts away. It was working like magic ! The worst part, however, was that I had totally lost contact with my family. Everyone had ran off into the bush for safety due to the constant attacks. And I was thinking about them all the time.
During that period, I developed a census program with friends to locate those who are missing, those who are dead and those who are alive. And to access the amount of properties that were destroyed so we could keep track of what was happening. People would go to each villages, input the information into the database. About 8 to 9 months after my arrival in Geneva, I was scanning through and suddenly I realized : oh, this is the name of my wife! And that’s how I found her again in a small village, hundreds of miles away from our locality. Wow, what an inspiration it was! I applied for family reunion and last year she arrived in Geneva with my two daughters.
I met a lot of wonderful and supportive people here. I also met people who went through similar experiences and some even worse than mine. Hearing their story gave me encouragement and relief. I have studied French to a level, did some internships and voluntary work. I’ve also been admitted for a Master’s degree course in Environmental Science at the university of Geneva. But for now I still depend on social assistance, and you cannot be comfortable with something you didn’t work for. This country is doing a lot to assist people like us, and we shouldn’t just fold our arms. So I want to finish my degree program and get a good job.
The part that makes me fulfilled is that my children will have a secure future. For them, it’s a perfect home. But I wouldn’t say I feel at home here. Although some may feel that I’m comfortable but my head is not comfortable. I still have a lot of family members scattered all over Cameroon, constantly moving around looking for safety. Several have been killed and each day I learn of a new problem. And insecurity is a big issue. Two months ago, one of my step sister was murdered in her house by a neighbour because she owed him 100 francs. You see the nature of how things are back there in my country. I cannot just sit here comfortably and think that this place is my home.
So I didn’t come here to stay forever. Look how beautiful this place is, how beautiful the houses are ! At this level of comfort, I think I don’t have as much creativity. I might just feel : oh everything is good, I can just relax. But what about my own country ? A lot of people back there look for a way to establish in Europe. But my goal was always to stay and assist foreign investors to create employment in my country. That was really my dream, to help build my country. I pray that someday this problem would end, and that I can go back home and make this dream come true. »
Note : V. and I met by chance as I was walking through the Quartier de l’Etang (Vernier) looking for a story. We started a conversation and then met again later to finish our exchange. This time, he arrived dressed with a traditional regalia and told me : « I want you to include my outfit in my story, because it’s really captivating. Anybody who reads the story, just by seeing my traditional Regalia, they will know : Oh this guy is from the Northwest region of Cameroon ! »
(Quartier de l’Etang, Vernier)
Part 1/2
« My father was a Prince, the son of the King of Bali Nyonga, a village in the Northwestern Province of Cameroon. He had 5 wives, and 16 children. We grew up in a big compound, his house in the middle while those of his wives and children were around his. We had a very good close relationship. He taught us the importance of unity and instilled in us the love to look after each other. He was a mentor for us and also for others in the village because he paid the school fees of many other children.
We had a big farm, cultivating coffee, beans, palm tree, cola, and other food crops including live stocks. The children and the mothers constituted the greatest workforce. We were involved in bush clearing, tilling, planting, harvesting, drying the coffee beans, etc. We knew it was our responsibility so we did it without complaint. We grew up in the spirit of always helping our parents. At university, I studied geology and became a petroleum engineer. Then, I worked with the Cameroon government for about 10 years. I was living in the capital city Yaoundé with my wife and children. Things were going on well for me. But then, in 2016, the war began.
It started just with a peaceful protest by the English Speaking minority. Cameroon is a bilingual country divided in two regions, the French speaking majority and the English speaking minority. The French speaking majority controlled the government and was bent on assimilating us by destroying our culture, our educational and judicial system. But when we took to the streets peacefully demanding for change and recognition, they sent their military against us. They maimed and killed us. One of my brothers was severely shot just beside me. After that, the young men went to the bushes and took up arms in revolt. And until today, it’s grown up to a full blown civil war.
In 2018, I came to Geneva for a conference at the UN, as part of my duty for the Ministry of Mines. By that time, the war was really at its apex, everybody could be a suspect. When I came back, I was picked up by the police at the airport. They put me in a room and started questioning me, asking if I had travelled to arrange for arms for the separatist. I didn’t have anything to do with the crisis, but they blindfolded me and took me away in their van. I was kept a prisoner for 11 months incommunicado. Maybe you can’t imagine how horrible prisons in Africa… It’s terrible. We were treated very inhumanely.
Many of us were kept in a very small dark room in an underground cell. The room had no toilet or bathroom with only one small window. Not everyone could lie down at the same time to sleep. Some were standing while others rested, and after some time we exchanged positions. There was also a torture room and they would take me there regularly. They’d tie my hand in my back and question me about people involved in the rebellion. They’d pour water continuously on my face so it was very difficult for me to breathe. And they hit me underneath my feet so hard with a baton that I couldn’t walk after for a long time.
My brother… it was really tough. It was a survival of the fittest. Some people would collapse and just die like this in our presence. When you’re in such situation you start thinking a lot, you have anger and it affects your health so badly. So I just decided : okay, I’m not going to think of anything or wonder when I’ll be released. I decided not to have any hope and accept whatever happens. I needed to preserve my energy to stay alive. Because anything could happen at any moment. At one point, maybe they realized that I was innocent, and after 11 months they released me.
After my release, I quickly called my wife. She was speechless and shocked when she heard my voice. Everyone thought I was dead. All she could do was cry in disbelieve. She told me there was still an arrest warrant against me and the police was looking for me. That’s how it works over there : a policeman can take a decision without informing his superiors. So there was nothing to prove I’d been detained for 11 months. She insisted I should run away from Cameroon. I still took the risk to go see them but when I got there, there was a gun battle between separatists and the military. Everyone had ran away into the bushes. So I fled to Nigeria. »
(Quartier de l’Etang, Vernier)
Part 2/2
« In Nigeria, I found a smuggler who assisted me to travel to Geneva. I had come here many times before, but this time was different. I went to the police and asked for protection because I was scared for my life. And I was given protection. But at first, things were very difficult. I was alone and traumatized, I couldn’t sleep at all and I was having hell of nightmares. My time in the prison, all the torturing was replaying in my brain. Back there, I had conditioned my mind not to waste energy or be hard on myself. While here, I knew that there was no more danger but I started feeling the pain of that prison and the anger over what happened.
Fortunately, the Swiss authorities, the doctors and social workers, they gave me all their support. The psychiatrist found out I had a very strong will power, so she didn’t prescribe any drug but give me a lot exercises that really helped me. When I felt depressed, I would just get up and push the wall with my hands, it helped me to push the thoughts away. It was working like magic ! The worst part, however, was that I had totally lost contact with my family. Everyone had ran off into the bush for safety due to the constant attacks. And I was thinking about them all the time.
During that period, I developed a census program with friends to locate those who are missing, those who are dead and those who are alive. And to access the amount of properties that were destroyed so we could keep track of what was happening. People would go to each villages, input the information into the database. About 8 to 9 months after my arrival in Geneva, I was scanning through and suddenly I realized : oh, this is the name of my wife! And that’s how I found her again in a small village, hundreds of miles away from our locality. Wow, what an inspiration it was! I applied for family reunion and last year she arrived in Geneva with my two daughters.
I met a lot of wonderful and supportive people here. I also met people who went through similar experiences and some even worse than mine. Hearing their story gave me encouragement and relief. I have studied French to a level, did some internships and voluntary work. I’ve also been admitted for a Master’s degree course in Environmental Science at the university of Geneva. But for now I still depend on social assistance, and you cannot be comfortable with something you didn’t work for. This country is doing a lot to assist people like us, and we shouldn’t just fold our arms. So I want to finish my degree program and get a good job.
The part that makes me fulfilled is that my children will have a secure future. For them, it’s a perfect home. But I wouldn’t say I feel at home here. Although some may feel that I’m comfortable but my head is not comfortable. I still have a lot of family members scattered all over Cameroon, constantly moving around looking for safety. Several have been killed and each day I learn of a new problem. And insecurity is a big issue. Two months ago, one of my step sister was murdered in her house by a neighbour because she owed him 100 francs. You see the nature of how things are back there in my country. I cannot just sit here comfortably and think that this place is my home.
So I didn’t come here to stay forever. Look how beautiful this place is, how beautiful the houses are ! At this level of comfort, I think I don’t have as much creativity. I might just feel : oh everything is good, I can just relax. But what about my own country ? A lot of people back there look for a way to establish in Europe. But my goal was always to stay and assist foreign investors to create employment in my country. That was really my dream, to help build my country. I pray that someday this problem would end, and that I can go back home and make this dream come true. »
Note : V. and I met by chance as I was walking through the Quartier de l’Etang (Vernier) looking for a story. We started a conversation and then met again later to finish our exchange. This time, he arrived dressed with a traditional regalia and told me : « I want you to include my outfit in my story, because it’s really captivating. Anybody who reads the story, just by seeing my traditional Regalia, they will know : Oh this guy is from the Northwest region of Cameroon ! »
(Quartier de l’Etang, Vernier)