In February, I spent a month at the Red Cross refugee shelter in Antwerp, Belgium.  Each day, I listened to various stories shared by the residents, stories that revealed their resilience and determination. Mothers fleeing with their children, children separated from their parents, parents mourning the loss of their children, fathers leaving their families behind in hopes of a safer reunion later on, young adults fleeing for their lives... Some have been on the road for years, alone, without family or friends.

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What struck me most was how many refugees, before reaching Belgium, traversed numerous other countries. Many have been on the move for years, knowing nothing but survival, hoping for a chance to finally settle somewhere safe. Their dreams often revolve around learning a new language and finding work, before even contemplating their future.

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I am humbly grateful for their openness in sharing their stories with me, and it was an honour to portrait them.

With this project, I hope to give them a voice by showing their true faces,  as I met them and spoke with them.

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I want to emphasize that I hope we start to not see them as just refugees, but as people like you and me, simply seeking survival without any choice other than the path they have taken. And that we help where we can. 

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The photos will be exhibited till the end of the summer of 2024 in the pedestrian tunnel under the river "De Schelde" in Antwerp, connecting the right bank with the left bank.

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Few people are aware of the existence of this shelter, and by showcasing their portraits in this tunnel, we aim to raise awareness among the residents and visitors of Antwerp about its existence."