The image of Europe that exists in Africa doesn’t resemble reality. Europe is seen as the continent of opportunities, richness and hospitality. Many people on the African continent dream of going to Europe, and some of them take the step. Once there, most of them can hardly make a living. After several years of struggle they realize that the opportunities to really make it in Europe are very limited.
But failure is not an option, they must succeed. There is the pressure of family who often invested in the trip. They put all their hope on their success in Europe and are expecting a lot. In Africa it’s difficult to openly discuss the negative sides of migration. Ignorance, suspicion and fear of losing face are predominant in the debate. This project wants to show the realities of life as an African migrant in Europe and inform potential new immigrants before they make the decision to travel to Europe.
Documentary Ssuuna's Story
The documentary tells the story of the successful photojournalist Ssuuna Golooba. He left his wife, children and job in Uganda, and moved to Europe in the hope of a better future. There, he realized Europe was not very eager to welcome him. Read more...
Nine-part television series Surprising Europe
The series is a magazine style program which portrays the lives of African migrants in Europe. It will be broadcasted on Al Jazeera English and a number of national tv broadcasters worldwide from medio 2011. Watch the trailer!
Website Surprisingeurope.com
Surprisingeurope.com is a virtual meeting place for migrants and anyone who is interested in African-European migration issues. It gives you the opportunity to speak out. Anyone can upload untold stories and share their experiences through text and video, anonymous or using your real name. The site is a platform for online discussions and questions about life as an African in Europe: from governmental issues to restaurant recommendations.
