Sainab Jama
I am 18 years old and have been living in Germany for two years. Before coming here, I experienced a lot of violence at a young age. I knew I had to find safety and a better life, so I made the difficult decision to escape. My journey led me through the brutal and dehumanizing conditions at the Belarus–Poland border, where I faced serious danger and fear. But despite all the challenges, I survived.
Since arriving in Germany, I have learned the language and started rebuilding my life. I’m now working towards starting my medicine degree, and I’ve also become an activist and advocate. My main focus is raising awareness about borders and the treatment of refugees especially based on my firsthand experience at the Polish-Belarusian border.
I have shared my story publicly in panel discussions in Berlin and and participated in conferences in warsaw where I spoke about the realities refugees face, especially women and young people like me. I believe in using my voice to speak for those who cannot.
Session
English
This is a personal story of survival, fear, and strength. I will share my journey as a refugee — from crossing borders to living in Europe — and speak about how I found ways to resist dehumanization and reclaim my voice.
I will try to speak about what I went through — the border crossings, the coldness of the asylum system, and also the unexpected kindness and the strength I discovered.
Deutsch
Dies ist eine persönliche Geschichte von Überleben, Angst und Stärke. Ich werde von meiner Reise als Flüchtende erzählen – vom Grenzübertritt bis zum Leben in Europa – und darüber sprechen, wie ich Wege fand, der Entmenschlichung zu widerstehen und meine Stimme zurückzugewinnen. Ich werde versuchen, darüber zu sprechen, was ich erlebt habe – die Grenzübergänge, die Kälte des Asylsystems, aber auch die unerwartete Freundlichkeit und Stärke, die ich entdeckt habe.