“I left home when I was 15 years old. I came from Algeria. When I arrived in Annemasse I went to the townhall. I told them: “I’m young, I want to work.” The mayor himself told me “my son, come”. He gave me a room, two covers and a mattress. His name was Montessuit. Then we brought me to the boss. He told him: “give this young man small things to do” and I had to bring water to the workmen. Almost one year like that. He was always calling me “my son”. Some people have a heart.

I’ve been in Geneva for 60 years now, and 4 days ago it was 20 years since I have been retired! I worked for two companies. I worked in Jonction at Kugler, the faucets, during 7 years. Then I worked for 33 years in precision tools for armament. The factory still exists in Carouge. I say thank you to God. Switzerland has helped me well. Especially my bosses. The last one he helped me a lot to get documents. At the Jonction it was a great factory. The two brothers were called Kugler and every morning they would shake everyone’s hand, and the factory was big! We were 2500. They were really good people. But we worked hard! We had three teams, and it was going strong! Very strong!

Now I’m 85 years old and I say thank you to God. The only thing I’m lacking is the health, the knees. If you push me, I fall. I don’t have anymore strength, I don’t have any cartilage left. At the hospital my doctor wanted to do a surgery to put a prosthesis. But I refused. If I’m going to die, I’m going to die like this. I’m not suffering, that’s true. And now I seek parks and I seek peace. And for the rest… eeeh everyone leaves… everyone leaves…”

(Parc des Bastions | translated from French)