Box of memories

This box represents the journey many migrants undertake, shaped by dreams, expectations, and the realities they encounter along the way. Before the journey, Europe is often imagined as a place of opportunity: a “land of milk and honey”, where a better life seems within reach. Words like ‘hope’, ‘freedom’, ‘progress’, and ‘future’ define this vision. These ideas are carried at the beginning, like promises. But journeys are not always what they seem.

Inside the box, the narrative shifts. What remains is not always what was imagined but what is necessary to survive. The contents – couscous, sugar, water, and a notebook – reflect moments of waiting, uncertainty, and adaptation. They tell a story of resilience, where dreams are not lost but transformed.

This “Box of Memories” is both personal and collective. It speaks of what is carried at the start of a journey and what remains at the end – reminding us that behind every movement is a human story shaped by courage, sacrifice, and the will to begin again.