En Vies

Barefoot, wounded from walking so long, freezing nights in jail, and hiding in the bottom of a boat waiting for the shooting to stop… Chaya, Oanh, Nancy, and so many other women confided to me the hardships they endured during their exile. They come from all walks of life. They migrated to escape war or poverty. Their dreams were extinguished when peace shattered in their country. What other choice than to walk endless paths in the shadows to continue dreaming of a better future? After having been uprooted and lost everything, how to find a dignified situation on a new land? Are language and cultural barriers surmountable obstacles? On the road to exile, women are exposed to multiple dangers. To rebuild themselves, they face so many challenges, burying in themselves the painful traces of a lost world. Thanks to the comforting flame of associations such as Kodiko with whom I have worked, most of them have allowed themselves to find hope and write a new story. These portraits were made during the years 2021 and 2022 in order to highlight their journey of resilience and their great dignity.