The following text is the speech delivered by Khaled Abdallah, Palestinian refugee and now Arci Solidarietà's operator in Rome, on June 4 during the the public forum held at the WE transnatonal event in Lampedusa. His words were shared shortly before the screening of a documentary created by the students of Liceo Majorana. In this deeply personal and moving testimony, Khaled recounts his life as a stateless refugee, his dangerous journey across the sea, and his experience finding hope and purpose through solidarity in Europe.

 

Hello, my name is Khaled.
I come from Palestinian roots, but I never had the chance to live in the land of my parents and grandparents. I was born and raised in refugee camps, always carrying the feeling of being temporary and stateless, as if no place I lived in was ever truly home.

Being born a refugee, even when you have citizenship, means growing up feeling like you live on the margins of the world. You belong, but not fully. You live, but not completely. And within you lives a constant, silent question:
Where do I truly belong? Will I ever know my real home?

The journey to seek refuge was the hardest moment of my life.
I left my second home, my family, and my memories. I took a long and dangerous journey, crossing the sea like thousands of others. With every wave, I thought: This could be the last one. Today, looking back, I better understand everything I had to face just to chase a better future because in that moment, I never hesitated, not even in the face of death.

Coming to Europe wasn't just about changing places. It meant changing everything: emotions, culture, and vision of life.
I experienced loneliness, fear, and uncertainty… but also growth, strength, and the will to move forward.

When I arrived, I didn’t find the Europe I had imagined.
I was looking for dignity, rights, and inclusion, but what I met was fear and suspicion. One of the hardest things was not having a place to sleep. I slept in parks and on the streets. My only goal was to find shelter or a job to support myself. But every time I asked for help or tried to find work, they told me: You have to study first.

So I did. I went to the first school I could find. There, I learned about civil service, a way to help the community and feel part of it. I was lucky to do my service with ARCI Solidarietà, and I had the opportunity to work with them.
For me, it wasn’t just a service. It became the home I proudly belong to, the place that listened to me and stood by me through every step of my life.

I rebuilt my life with them, step by step. I began (and I’m still) learning many things with them, and today I’m happy to give back by helping other people who are walking the same path I once did.

With every step I take, I carry my story with me and try to be the voice for those who didn’t make it, those who sadly did not survive their journey.

My participation in the Ways of Europe project is not just a personal story. It is an invitation to imagine a Europe that listens, protects, and grows stronger through the diversity of its people, not through fear.
Because we are not just refugees. We are human beings with a story, a dream, and the right to belong.

Solidarity is not optional. It is a human necessity.
It is possible for Europe to build its future by listening to others.
My story is not an exception. It is one of many that can make Europe a more beautiful, fair, and humane place.