Digital expo: Covid-19 through the lens of young refugees and migrants

David │ When the quarantine began and the doors of this place were closed; for me this was officially a prison. The only thing that kept us alive was that little hope that each of us has. Many fell, many sank, and others wept madly. I didn’t. I was given something that nobody else has, something that no other refugee got in Belgium: the keys to paradise. My place, with privacy and silence. A small room whose walls form an eternal horizon. Thanks to that place I survived.

Ahmad │ Noisy nights │ During the pandemic, the noise during the night in the centre was too much. Every frame needs windows, otherwise it does not prevent noise.

Hamid │ Things that make me feel at peace│ Not much more to do. We cannot go out, everything is closed. Drinking tea and smoking were those few things we could do back then. Being with my uncle and sharing these moments kept me close and connected with my family.

Hamid │ Life in the centre was not nice during Corona. Too many people living together. Internet went off at midnight. But I had no other choice than keeping myself strong. This is the way I wanted my family to see me.

Ismail │ Cleanliness│ This is not the way to keep health in a good condition. My room is usually a good example, I only messed it up for this picture.

Leslie │ When I arrived minutes before practice, I saw the empty court and it created a kind of peace inside me. There was no sound around me and I started playing with the ball while I waited for the others. The others will arrive because the pandemic is over, and we will start playing together again.

Shoaib │ 11 March 2020, the first pandemic │ Whenever I see empty streets like this it reminds me of corona quarantine; all shops closed, social distance, masks. However, there were also some good things I remember from those days; schools were closed, and I was always at home with my mom and my dog watching movies. I still hope this never happens again.

Sabna │ During the coronavirus period, I was at home every evening, I had time to look at those burning lamps from my window, and I said to myself: there is a light behind every darkness.

Mohamed │ Game │ When we were in lockdown, we couldn’t do anything as we used to do. In those times I struggled to do something therefore I just kept playing video games. I couldn’t even go out to play or do exercises, I couldn’t link up with my friends. That’s how boring and lonely it was. Just sitting home playing video games all day. But one thing I realised was that I wasted all that time and, to be honest, I regret it.

Ami │ Corona │ Commemorating the forgotten soldiers

David │ After all the suffering and misery, refugees also had to deal with a plague in which they feel like they’re being treated worse than animals, by a system that is already in crisis in normal times. Nonetheless, this horrible country makes me happy. But it is selfish happiness. I smile because I know that nobody is bombing my house or killing my family.

David │ When asked about my memories of living in a refugee centre in Belgium during the pandemic, a bitter feeling comes to my mind. Like a martyr remembering his last punishment. I never felt that afraid of the virus, I never saw it as something dangerous. For me, the real danger are the living conditions in a refugee centre. If you aren’t strong, they destroy you while you’re alive. When the quarantine was imposed for almost two months, many of my friends fell into madness. The food in the refugee centres has always been terrible, but now we couldn’t even go out to eat something different. Overcrowding and poor hygiene have always been a rule for refugees, and now we couldn’t get out of our cages. Sleep deprivation is common, but now we couldn’t even sleep over at a friend’s house so we could have at least a restful night. The coronavirus didn’t worsen our reality as refugees, it only prevented us from escaping it.

Ilyjah │ Church│ This is where we (my family) go to pray for the Coronavirus to hopefully disappear, or to ask for guidance for the illness and problems that comes with it. We ask for guidance so that even though there is a problem such as Corona virus in this world we still don’t give up on life or the world that we live in.

Maroofkhel │Despite the corona pandemic, being in Belgium allowed me to go to school, go out, be safe, and be happy.

Romal │ The pandemic is increasing my stress and worry, affecting my social relations, my trust in other people and in institutions. I have tried to pray for myself and my parents. My biggest worry was that I will lose them during the pandemic, because family is very important.

Romal │ I had to leave my home, possessions, and friends behind. I was generally not permitted to work until I am granted the right to remain in Belgium, but I can access asylum support and received psychological support.

Haarpreet │ Love birds │ When Corona was going on, I liked a girl, but we could not meet because of Corona. I made this picture so that when we meet, I will tell her how much I love her.

Rahmani │ Good and bad during Corona │ This photo represents the good and bad days during the Covid. There are not many bitter friends, mostly sweet ones in this photo. We couldn’t go out like prisoners in a cage, but I was able to learn a lot during the hard days of the lockdown. This is one of those days when I was able to draw this so beautifully.

Victoria │ My sister waited a year for us to be together again before she got married. When we had almost given up hope, it happened. It was one of the most beautiful and happy moments of our lives. Maybe it wasn’t the way we wanted it, but it was wonderful because we were alive, healthy, and together.

Ami │ Opening a new business! Chances.

Barakat │In Afghanistan I did not go to school. I am happy to go to school now and be with the rest. Still, sometimes I feel afraid that the virus can spread again.

Maria │ Video call │ In the midst of the pandemic, technology was decisive. We were distant but not disconnected.

Maria │ Happy birthday │ had recently arrived in Belgium during the pandemic. We could not invite anyone, nor could we go out with anyone. My parents didn’t have enough resources to do much more for my 15th birthday yet. Nevertheless, it was a very intimate and beautiful occasion.

Umar │ Shaking hands│ Shaking hands used to be a normal habit for me. In my culture shaking hands means connection and respect. I am trying to get back to the normal situation and shake hands with no stress.

Sabna │ Corona taught me this: tell your family you love them. It’s no use after you lose them.

Tejan │ I used to have a great time with my friends, but because of corona that wasn’t possible anymore. I really missed all the good times we spent together. We were just happy and decided to take a photo as a symbol of our friendship. We did not know back then this would take a long time to happen again.

Re-connecting │ This is us, a long time ago, after we met for the first time at school. Then it was Corona time, so we had masks. The string among us was in a way connecting us, slightly. Meanwhile everyone was being introduced to the class. We all have changed. It is also a different time now. We are grateful that we are still together, with deeper connections, like the one of the strings. Happy that there are no masks, that we can look at each other and recognize who we are and what keeps us united. All different but similar, distant but close, originally from diverse places but sharing a common space, speaking various languages but understanding each other better…, being connected even when far away.

David │ Do you dislike this photo? Imagine that in each room of each apartment there are 5 beds. You can’t leave the room, much less the house. I slept every night in one of those. Not knowing when I’ll be free again. This is quarantine for a refugee. However bad it is for Belgian people; it will be even worse for refugees.

Tejan │ Winter in corona time │ When I was in Africa, I always wondered what snow would look like. Seeing how snow looked on my phone, it instantly became my dream. For years I’ve always wanted to touch it, play with it, even taste it. But that was all I thought it would be… A dream.

September 2020, I had the opportunity to come to Belgium. September went by fast, just like October and November. Then December came. Each morning I would wake up and look out of my window for fallen snow on the ground. I started to lose interest in the thing I was really fascinated about; snow.

But then the 14th of December snow came. I was happy. Really happy. I ran to wear my shoes and my jacket. I ran out with my sisters behind me. We played for hours long. I really loved it. The next two days snow kept falling. I was enjoying it.

One day as snow was falling, I ran to put on my shoes as my mom said that I couldn’t go out because there was a lockdown. She said that if anyone went out without a good reason, they might get a fine. So, I did as she told me. I stayed inside. Watching the snow as it fell down made me happy but also sad at the same time. I could watch the snow and admire it from a distance. It didn’t feel the same. I would’ve felt happier if the snow would fall on me instead of the ground.”

Ali Sina │ Pleasant silence │ Curfew, it was 9:30 on a Wednesday evening at the time of Covid-19. The curfew was 10 p.m. I was on this bridge biking to my student room. That silence reminded me of our village in Afghanistan when it was dark. Many people hated the curfew, but I loved the silence of that time. It brings back many memories. Sometimes a not so good thing can still give you a nice feeling.

Khogyani │ During the pandemic, I was sad because we couldn’t play and joke together with our friends.

Romal │I experienced a strong sense of social and emotional isolation and of course loneliness and depression. There were higher levels of anxiety and depression than normal. It changed my lifestyle behaviours, routine, physical activities, and sleep.

Yasmin │ I have come to the realization that we have to value life outside more during corona. I had never thought about the fact that we only had to stay home for 3 months but that fish always has to be locked in a fish tank.

Abdikafi │ Comfort of compulsion │ The time of the corona virus was a difficult time. Because I wanted to spend time with my friends but that was not possible. One thing I used to enjoy myself with was watching TV but I was not happy because sometimes I thought I was dreaming. It is not easy to watch TV every day.