Dreams vs. Reality Stories of Young Migrants: Pieces of a Shattered Homeland

Hanan Hussein – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

Amid armed conflicts and their far-reaching consequences, including Yemen’s deteriorating economic situation, young Yemenis are driven by great ambitions and dreams across diverse fields. Many actively seeking opportunities that promise income and stability, enabling a dignified life—even if it means risking their lives to achieve it.

Young Yemenis may exhaust themselves in search for a country to migrate to, striving to escape the harsh realities of their homeland. In this pursuit, they leave behind their families, dreams, and aspirations, forced to take a step into the unknown, without certainty of being on the right or of arriving safely—or alive. Many face tragic fates: drowning in the sea, murdered in the forests, or scattered remains on a mountain, or succumbing to thirst in arid deserts. While some migrate legally, they often endure hardships abroad with minimal resources. This report aims to highlight the profound suffering experienced of these young migrants.

Victims of Conflict

Ali, a young man in his thirties, migrated to escape his bitter reality in Yemen, heading to a European country. But he didn’t know he was walking straight into hell. He says: “I’d thought a lot about migration since finishing high school. I was interested and searched for information constantly. With the start of the conflict, I was driven to do what I’d been thinking about for years. After finishing my bachelor’s degree, I asked a relative to help me get a visa to work in a Gulf country, but he flatly refused.”

He continues: “Day after day, I started going to visa agencies to get one reliably, to avoid the scam my neighbor fell victim to. He’d bought a visa from one of these agencies, only to find nothing but illusion and disappointment.”

Ali falls silent, staring into a corner as if reliving bitter memories, recounting the details of his terrifying experience: “After many failed attempts to get a visa, I met a young man in an agency who shared my ambition, even encouraged me to travel with him overland, unofficially. That’s when the disaster began.”

Ali and the young man traveled across the desert, hoping to reach that country and find better living conditions and higher salaries. Along the way, daydreams seemed real. The closer they got to the border, the bigger their dreams of earning a good salary, owning a fancy car, and eventually a villa grew. Before Ali could fully furnish his imagined villa, the truck they were in stopped. The driver told them they were near a checkpoint and needed to hide.

In a moment, the two tumbled down the truck and hid. The driver tried to conceal them, but their hiding place was probably discovered by modern technology and the expertise of the border guards within minutes. They were sent back after being detained, subjected to severe punishment, and forced to pay a hefty fine.

Persistence Towards the Abyss

Despite this, Ali and the young man didn’t give up, though their bodies bore the marks of their ordeal. They learned from their mistake and planned a different route, crossing the mountains. They succeeded in crossing the border, but the suffering was immense, the pain was unbearable. They reached a desert, thirsty and hungry, searching for shelter – even a few minutes of respite from their grueling journey.

Ali’s friend bitterly recounts: “The road was neither paved nor safe, especially given the armed conflicts. We were constantly worried about stepping on a landmine. And let’s not forget the wild animals that tried to attack us, but we survived. Thirst, hunger, and fear were our companions for days, under a scorching sun. We tried not to think about it, focusing on the life we’d imagined upon reaching our destination.”

Ali wipes away a tear, trying to hide it: “We didn’t expect hell still awaited us, that what we’d been through was just the road to it. I tried contacting relatives to ask for a couple of days’ hospitality, but no one welcomed us. We went to a friend of the young man who was with me, and we spent months hidden in his farm, trying to find work.”

The Beginning of the End… and the End

Ali’s friend continues the story: “One night, a friend of the farm owner came looking for a farmhand. I took the job without asking questions. I worked for about nine months, sending my family a pittance that didn’t even cover my basic needs in this foreign land.”

He goes on: “One day, the farm owner was out of town, and the authorities raided the farm looking for undocumented workers and their sponsors. They only found me and the shepherd, who showed them his sponsorship papers. I couldn’t defend myself or explain the situation – it was too overwhelming. I lost consciousness and woke up in a dark cell. I was tortured, even worse than the first time.”

“I couldn’t stand for days. I was held for months until they finally took my fingerprints, and details, and banned me from entering the country. Even now, years later, I suffer from kidney failure because of the fear and stress I experienced, and I still have a broken leg that hasn’t healed properly. I consider myself lucky to be alive!”

That’s how Ali’s friend ended his story about his tragic illegal migration and the various tortures he endured.

Suad’s Challenging Journey

On a sweltering summer day, 32-year-old Suad left Aden airport in mid-2022, carrying big dreams and high hopes. Her destination was the Netherlands, a country that seemed like paradise after the harsh conditions, crises, and endless conflicts she’d lived through. But the reality was very different. The narrow streets, tall buildings, and foreign language made her feel lonely and scared.

Suad experienced culture shock immediately. She’d been used to a conservative, closed society, but now she was in a large, diverse, and open one. The biggest challenge was adapting to the fast-paced lifestyle and high demands of studying and working. Language was a huge barrier; despite studying English, she found it difficult to understand the local dialect and express herself fully.

Culture shock wasn’t Suad’s only challenge. She also struggled financially and found it hard to find work. Even with her scholarship, the cost of living was extremely high. She started taking on temporary jobs with low pay, struggling to cover her tuition, rent, and transportation. Finding suitable accommodation was also difficult, as apartment prices were very expensive.

Amidst these challenges, Suad began to forge a new identity. She tried hard to integrate into her new community, balancing her beliefs and principles with life in an open European country. She participated in various cultural and social activities, met many different people, and built a decent network. This helped her get assistance, work, opportunities, and engagements when she needed them.

Over time, Suad adapted to life in the Netherlands. She mastered the language and got a reasonably stable job, although the pay was low. But she started to feel a sense of belonging in this new society and became proud of herself and her hard work.

Suad and Ali’s stories represent millions of migrants seeking a better life—stories of resilience, challenge, and growth alongside risk, passion, and the pursuit of a better future. Migration can be a difficult experience, but it can also be an opportunity to learn, grow, and discover oneself.

These two stories are just examples of the experiences of Yemeni migrants. Each person has a different story, but they all share common challenges and hopes—the pursuit of a dignified life and a better future. Will Yemen ever become a destination for migrants from around the world?